Category: Housing

Renters (Reform) Bill Second Reading

Published on by jonesjb

The Renters (Reform) Bill is the smallest of steps; it must be tougher in order to be fairer.

Firstly we need rent controls, the Mayor of London has asked for these powers and Greens at all levels of government will fight to give him them. Local mayors and local authorities know their areas and understand the local housing market. This Government should give them the power to make that choice.

Secondly, we Greens would lengthen the notice periods for rent increases and stop landlords using spurious grounds to evict people.

Thirdly, we will support all the amendments that aim to make life easier for student renters. I declare an interest here, as I now have grandchildren who are starting out in the world as students, so they clearly have a vested interest in this. Continue reading “Renters (Reform) Bill Second Reading” →

Emergency Motion: Nutrient Neutrality

Published on by greenlordsmedia

Emergency Motion to conference

Jenny has put an emergency motion to conference in response to reports that the government will try again to scrap the anti-pollution rules for areas like the Norfolk Broads and Lake District. Please like it on the Green Party members emergency motion page, so it can be debated:

Continue reading “Emergency Motion: Nutrient Neutrality” →

Geothermal Heat and Power Debate

Published on by jonesjb

This Government are eco-stupid. Part of their problem is an inability to see the global impact of climate change and our role in it. Part of it is the straightforward corruption of donations to the Conservative Party buying influence, North Sea oil licences and the demolition of our net-zero target. Their resistance to all things green is often disguised as innate conservatism, but it is pure hypocrisy, they love open-cast coal mines and giant fracking wells but find large windmills an ugly addition to our traditional landscape. Continue reading “Geothermal Heat and Power Debate” →

Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Second Reading

Published on by jonesjb

This Bill does not mention climate change which is the biggest existential threat to all of humankind; it is not just about the north or the south but the whole world and the Government have been deficient in mentioning it and putting it into a context that can make a difference. Continue reading “Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Second Reading” →

Repeal of the Vagrancy Act

Published on by jonesjb

The Vagrancy Act is relic of an age when being homeless was a crime, it made it a criminal offence to beg or be homeless on the street in England and Wales. The law was passed in the summer of 1824.

One of my favourite podcast interviews in the Jen’s Green Jam series was with Lord Bird, founder of the Big Issue. He spoke then about getting rid of the Vagrancy Act and afterwards, I was left wondering if it was one of those issues that had to wait for a change of government. Continue reading “Repeal of the Vagrancy Act” →

Environment Bill Committee Day 6 – Water

Published on by jonesjb

We currently use water in an extremely illogical way. Clean, drinkable water is flushed down the loo when there is a really obvious alternative: to not use it. The separation and capture of grey water should be routine, and the Government should make it a requirement in building regs, because the benefits are so blindingly clear.

When we combine the separation and reuse of grey water with the separation of sewage from drainage, we have a much more sustainable water system. I hope that not very long into the future we will look back on the idea of using clean water to flush our toilets and then mixing it with rainwater, before spending huge amounts of money getting the sewage back out, as illogical and disgusting. Continue reading “Environment Bill Committee Day 6 – Water” →

Building to fail

Published on by jonesjb

We cannot solve Britain’s housing crisis by building shoddy homes in dangerous places, We need high-quality, safe, energy-efficient homes situated in ecologically sound places. If the Government live up to their stated environmental ambitions or have the slightest bit of common sense, the way forward is obvious: we simply do not build on flood plains. It is a national problem that we cannot fix once these houses are built, because they will not be safe, dry or good to live in and it will be impossible to insure them. Once again, the Government are building for failure, and I do not understand why any Government would do that. Continue reading “Building to fail” →