Stroud District Green Party are hosting a ‘Question Time’-style debate, independently chaired and moderated, to discuss the forthcoming local government devolution, and to hear the opinions on threats and opportunities it presents from an expert cross party panel of local politicians.

If you value local democracy, come and make your voice heard – and join the debate!

Free to attend – but please register so we have an idea on numbers: click here

There will be opportunities to ask questions on the evening but if you would like to submit a question in advance please send it by email to data@stroudgreens.org.uk

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Gloucestershire Greens are delighted to have it confirmed that the Gloucestershire County Council elections are to go ahead, despite the council’s Conservative leader trying to have them cancelled.

Adrian Oldman, coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: “Around the country, people are being denied a vote at local elections in May because the Labour government wants to do away with many local councils and replace them with more unaccountable bodies.

“Cllr Stephen Davies, Conservative leader of Gloucestershire County Council, jumped on this move and tried to have these elections cancelled, because the county’s Conservatives were scared to face the voters with their painfully slim control of the council. Thankfully his request was turned down by the government yesterday, but the local Conservatives have forfeited their right to represent the county as we face an uncertain future for local decision-making.

“Now the government has confirmed that elections are being held here, let’s make sure the government hears from local people.”

Beki Hoyland, coordinator of the Forest of Dean Green Party, said: “The big parties in Westminster claim they want to devolve more power to local councils, but Labour’s latest plans will see this year’s election cancelled in eight counties. Our fragile democracy can’t afford to ignore the people’s right to vote.”

There are already five Green county councillors in Gloucestershire and the party believes it can increase that number significantly in May.

Adrian Oldman added: “We will have candidates standing so that people’s views on what happens in the place they live are heard in the council chamber.”

National Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said: “It’s hard to think of anything more anti-democratic than cancelling elections ahead of a significant change in local democracy. It’s straight out of an authoritarian playbook. How can politicians claim an electoral mandate for major local government changes if those most impacted see their elections cancelled? 

“The Green Party is urging the government to save our democracy, allow these long-planned elections to take place and get around the table to discuss how to make devolution work for people in local areas across the country.

“We want decisions made closest to where they have the greatest impact with significant devolution of powers and funding from Westminster. Without that, people will grow ever more cynical about politics.”

The government’s plans are outlined here:
16 Dec 2024 Local government reorganisation: letter to two-tier areas – GOV.UK
5 Feb 2025 Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time – GOV.UK

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Gloucestershire Greens say the Gloucestershire County Council elections in May must go ahead, for the sake of public trust in local democracy.

The county’s Green parties – Stroud District, Forest of Dean, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cotswold and Gloucester – say the Conservative administration’s proposal to postpone the elections for a year is “undemocratic” and “must be resisted”.

The Conservatives want to postpone the elections to focus on fast-tracking the government’s plans for ‘devolution’ – the abolition of 164 district councils and 21 county councils across the country, with power moved to new and larger local authorities.

Adrian Oldman, joint coordinator of Stroud District Green Party, said: “Given the Conservatives’ current wafer-thin majority on GCC, they are likely to lose control in May. Their attempt to postpone the elections seems opportunistic, manipulating the system so they can cling on to power for another year.

“It is undemocratic, unnecessary and totally unacceptable. If the elections are postponed, or maybe, cancelled, these seemingly inevitable proposals for supersized councils will be pushed through by councillors whose terms will have expired. The elections must go ahead for the sake of democracy.”

Cheltenham Borough councillor Tabi Joy commented: “Even though this reorganisation would have profound effects on our communities, neither residents nor councils have been consulted. There has been no opportunity for any formal debate or vote on the matter. But if councils refuse to cooperate, the changes will be forced on us by the government. We have no choice but to engage with the process and try to get the best possible outcome for our residents, businesses and local democracy.”

Adam Shearing, coordinator of Gloucester Green Party, added that postponement of the elections would unfairly delay the election of the two additional Gloucestershire county councillors proposed almost two years ago (March 2023) by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. “The LGBCE deemed that people in Gloucestershire are already under-represented in terms of the number of county councillors. A postponement would be unfair in that it continues the democratic deficit for yet another year.”

Greens support genuine devolution, but say the proposed reforms would take power away from local communities. Dr Clare Turner of the Cotswold Green Party said: “Everything points to ‘devolution’ being forced through. It will steal decision-making power away from local people by placing power in the hands of vast councils, remote from our communities and controlled by central government. This can only undermine local democracy, leaving communities feeling even more powerless, further eroding trust and confidence in politics.”

At Tewkesbury Green Party, coordinator Matt Dimond-Brown called the reorganisation “an outright attack on local democracy”, saying: “Middle-sized towns will be wiped from the political map in this gerrymandering exercise, and rural areas will see power moved further away, held by fewer locally elected representatives.

“This isn’t about genuine devolution or even increased efficiency; Labour’s primary purpose is to remove ‘the blockers’ and drive growth. They want to take power from elected councillors and give it to developers.”

Tim Rickard, joint coordinator of the Forest of Dean Green Party, pointed out that the Government’s proposals face opposition even from inside the Labour Party. The belief that they were about “destroying local democracy” and imposing “nothing short of a dictatorship” was among the issues that led to 20 councillors at Broxtowe borough council in Nottinghamshire resigning from Labour to form a new Independent group.

He said: “The local elections in May must go ahead so that voters can choose who represents them as these massive changes go through. Instead of colluding with the Labour government to scrap the elections, the Conservative County Council must allow voters to exercise their fundamental democratic rights.”

The county’s Green leaders will be writing to their MPs to ask them to ensure May’s elections go ahead as planned.  Greens believe in bottom-up politics, informed by those directly involved, and will do their utmost to protect our communities and local democracy through this process.

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The motion, calling for a sustainable catering and procurement policy, was proposed by Cllr Beki Hoyland (Green, Forest of Dean: Blakeney and Bream) and seconded by Cllr Chloe Turner (Green, Minchinhampton) and passed by a majority vote.

Cllr Hoyland explained that using sustainable food would help address not only environmental issues (industrial farming creates greenhouse gas emissions and is the leading cause of the decline of wildlife) but also health issues (a poor diet leads to illness and obesity, often affecting lower-income people who can’t afford a healthy diet).

Cllr Hoyland said: “This council has declared a climate emergency, has targets to reduce obesity, and is part of a multi-agency ongoing response to the cost-of-living crisis. What we eat has an impact on all these problems, so changing what we eat and where it comes from has the potential to benefit the health of people and the environment. Using more locally produced food will also be good for the local economy and create jobs.”

Cllr Turner said: “I hope this will lead to the GCC caterers offering more seasonal food from local producers, and more plant-based options to cater for the ever-growing number of vegetarians and vegans and the increasing numbers of meat-eaters who would prefer to eat less meat. They would like to be confident that the meat served is locally produced and meets welfare and environmental standards while remaining affordable.”

She added: “It would also be great to see more information about the provenance of the food served at Shire Hall, as I know many staff and visitors would like to choose food that has been supplied by local businesses and farms.”

After consulting with staff on the proposed changes, the council will now try to include more plant-based options, good quality meat and more locally produced, seasonal and nutritious food, in line with the government’s Eatwell Guide. The council will also move to reusable and recyclable packaging and utensils, which should mean an end to the use of certain single-use plastics that have not been phased out yet.

It will work closely with its partners in the Gloucestershire Food and Farming Partnership and with the Sustainable Food Places scheme, which both aim to make local, healthy and sustainable food available to everyone.

Suppliers may be asked to commit to certain standards in the food they supply.

Pictured are the Green councillors on Gloucestershire County Council: left to right Chris McFarling (Forest of Dean: Sedbury), Beki Hoyland (Forest of Dean: Blakeney and Bream), Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton), Cate Cody (Tewkesbury).

• In other news from the same council meeting, on November 8, the council is to work out how much it would cost to provide free bus transport for veterans in the county, after a motion by the Greens.
  
  And the council will look into ways of addressing traffic safety for the cattle on Minchinhampton and Rodborough commons, following a Labour motion supported by the Greens (see report by the BBC).

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Thanks to the Green Party councillors, an electric bike (or “e-bike”) hire scheme is to be rolled out in locations across the county. The £150,000 scheme is expected to allow residents to trial e-bike ownership over a number of months, following a model successfully deployed in other councils around the country, with the option to purchase the bike at a discount after the hire period. Studies have shown that those who trial an e-bike are significantly more likely to want one for the longer term, and to cycle more in the future.

E-bikes are particularly suited to more rural and hilly areas, such as Stroud district, or those where there aren’t suitable, safe, separated cycling options, giving confidence and increased pedal power to those who need it and a cheap way to get around at a time when many are struggling with rising costs.

Secure bike storage will also begin to be made available thanks to the Greens, with a £90,000 budget for lockable bike hangars for public use across the county successfully passed. It is well established that people are more likely to travel by bike with the reassurance of having somewhere safe to store their cycling equipment. These new facilities will further support the commitment recently made by the Gloucestershire councils to increase active travel three-fold by 2030.

The outcomes of a recent County Council Restoring Our Rivers Working Group will now be properly resourced thanks to the Green Group, which has successfully argued that a budget of £100,000 should be assigned to it. Widespread national coverage of the poor state of river water quality and biodiversity led to the establishment of this important project on the state of the county’s water courses, and its recommendations can now be pursued thanks to this new funding.

And finally, the county’s Rights of Way officers will see their budgets significantly increased in the coming year, with an amendment worth £60,000, being topped up by a Labour amendment of £40,000, bringing the total to £100,000 to better support the routine maintenance of our network of footpaths and other rights of way. Walking is a good way to maintain fitness, doesn’t cost anything and helps to reduce carbon and traffic.

These latest wins build on Green Party success at the County Council in 2022, when £165,000 of Green amendments were successfully passed. Amounts secured that year included the funding for a recycling ‘tip shop’, which is now in development, and the recruitment of a biodiversity officer for the county, who is now in post and beginning his task to make better use of county land for ecological gain.

Cllr Chloe Turner (Green Party, Minchinhampton) said: “Gloucestershire County Council is waking up to the urgency of the climate and ecological crises, but the pace of change is still not fast enough. I am so pleased we have been able to contribute these further improvements to the Council’s budget, part of our commitment to a fairer, greener, happier Gloucestershire.”

Green Group Leader Cllr Cate Cody (Tewkesbury Division) said: “We are really pleased to have gained even further budget wins in our second year. Actively promoting cycling and walking whilst conserving our lovely county are high priorities for Greens and we’re also thrilled to be able to help tackle filthy river pollution, which is highly topical and very important to our constituents. We know much of what needs doing, now we have some financial support to help carry out some action.”

Pictured is the Green Group: from left to right Cate Cody (Tewkesbury), Chloe Turner (Minchinhampton), Beki Hoyland (Forest of Dean), Chris McFarling (Forest of Dean).

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The Alliance leaders felt they couldn’t support an Investment Zone bid for the Gloucestershire Science & Technology Park in Berkeley, as the reduction in planning controls and environmental protections, which appears to be a condition of any Investment Zone, brings too many risks for the community and local environment. 

The County Council was required to respect the decision of Stroud District, as the Local Planning Authority, but on Friday announced that they strongly disagreed and would be putting the project forward to Government anyway.  

The Government Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has since confirmed to Stroud that the rules the Department set out for local authorities in England to submit an Investment Zone expression of interest, do still apply for Gloucestershire. This means that any bid for the local area without the consent of Stroud District Council will fail. 

Cllr Catherine Braun, Leader of Stroud District Council, said: “We are very pleased to get confirmation that the Investment Zone proposal has been scuppered, despite the Conservative County Council trying to force it through.”

Explaining why the Alliance refused to support an expression of interest, she said: “We have a vision for a fairer, greener Stroud District. This involves standing up for our communities and for nature.

“We welcome high-quality development, in line with our net zero commitments, which meets the needs of our residents and businesses. However, we said ‘no’ to the Investment Zone proposal, as it would mean loss of local control over the planning process, with developers being able to ride roughshod over important environmental protections and the views of our local communities.  

“With nature in the UK under huge pressure, this is not the moment to tear up vital legal protection. Earlier this year, the independent environment watchdog said that even existing laws are failing to slow the damage to land, air and water in our country. 

“We stand with the National Trust and conservation organisations like the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts in condemning the attack on nature, which is part of the Truss Government’s plan for Investment Zones. It is also shocking to see that the legal requirement to achieve net zero by 2050 has been completely overlooked in this policy.”

Cllr Natalie Bennett, Deputy Leader, agreed that an Investment Zone would have an adverse impact on the local area, particularly on valued local businesses. “The experience of previous Enterprise Zones is that they are mainly taken up by large-scale, footloose businesses who benefit from the tax incentives, and then move on,” she said. “This is not the vision we have for our local economy. We all remain strongly committed to supporting development at the Science & Technology Park in Berkeley, that is in line with our Local Plan.”

Cllr Doina Cornell, Leader of the Community Independents Group, added:

“From the start we were concerned with the focus on ‘economic growth at any cost’ and the indications that Investment Zones would not be required to provide affordable housing or fund key infrastructure. We also raised concerns at the way the entire Investment Zone policy was being managed. There has been no consultation with the local community, and as District Leaders we were given only 24 hours to consider an outline expression of interest. A high-speed bidding process, with quick announcement of ‘winners’ to boost a rapidly collapsing Tory Government, is no way to distribute public finances or to advance economic development.”

Cllr Ken Tucker, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said:

“We were assured by the Secretary of State, Simon Clarke, that local consent was critical, and that he would be ‘requiring confirmation that the Local Planning Authority supports any proposal for an Investment Zone as part of the Expression of Interest process’, to make sure any proposal is right for that area.

“We were therefore both shocked and appalled that Mark Hawthorne, Conservative Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, chose to ignore the wishes of elected leaders in Stroud District, as well as in Cheltenham, in an attempt to circumvent the rules. It looked like a last, desperate attempt to prop up a failing Prime Minister at the expense of our precious environment and local democracy, and we are all delighted that we have succeeded in blocking it.”

ENDS

Information on the Investment Zone concept can be seen here: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investment-zones-in-england/investment-zones-in-england

Stroud District Council’s response can be seen here:

https://www.stroud.gov.uk/news-archive/statement-stroud-district-council-remains-committed-to-regeneration-and-new-technology-in-berkeley

Gloucestershire County Council statement:

https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucestershire-county-council-news/news-october-2022/county-council-launches-its-bid-to-government-for-two-investment-zones/

National Trust statement

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/press-release/green-not-grey-national-trust-calls-on-government-to-put-environment-at-root-of-growth-plans

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust statement

https://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/blog/roger-mortlock-cheif-executive/attack-nature

Nature loss: Watchdog highlights ‘precarious state’ of environment

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61414475

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The shop will enable unwanted but repairable items to be saved from the tip and reused, reducing the number of items sent to the incinerator or landfill, helping to reduce carbon emissions and giving residents the chance to do upcycling projects and avoid buying new products.

The amendment means that £120,000 will be available to set up a shop, which will help the Council meet its commitment to reducing waste and increase recycling rates.

Cllr Chloe Turner (Green, Minchinhampton) – pictured – said: “There are lots of benefits to having ‘tip shops’. They contribute towards a true circular economy, where things get reused instead of being thrown away. And there are social benefits including job and apprenticeship opportunities, the chance to create volunteer communities, set up repair cafes to build skills, run training workshops and school visits and create ‘men sheds’ and other fantastic mental health initiatives. The project would have a huge positive impact socially, environmentally and culturally; it’s a win-win for residents, the environment and our economy.”

Bristol, Thornbury and Newport – among other places – already have similar facilities, and Cllr Turner said: “Many of these ventures are financially independent, employing people and generating enough income to donate some profits to charity. It’s great that we in Gloucestershire now have a chance to catch up.”

A Green amendment to the budget also won £45,000 to hire a project officer to establish biodiversity projects on GCC land, ensuring that the council meets its new duties under the Environment Act regarding the protection and promotion of nature. The new officer will also work closely with the Local Nature Partnership and the council’s other partners in the Climate Leadership Group.

The county council budget – agreed on 16 February – already contained positive environmental initiatives to help meet the ambition of net zero by 2045 for the county. Cllr Turner commented: “Taking on these Green initiatives will help the Council to achieve important biodiversity targets and increase public participation in conservation activities, alongside the other projects already in the budget.”

Cllr Cate Cody (Leader of the GCC Green group; Tewkesbury), who proposed the amendments, said: “We are pleased that this budget starts to reflect the vision of a Greener Gloucestershire and will help us all enjoy today while considering future generations and our natural environment. The nature and climate emergencies are inextricably linked and biodiversity gains improve the quality of services. Nature is an asset and supports our wellbeing together with our economy. Most importantly, natural solutions can mitigate climate change at scale. The more biodiverse our county, the more resilient it will be.”

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She warned that even if COP26 commitments are met the future’s still grim: water scarcity, rising sea levels, heatwaves, habitat loss, mass migration, war – and much of Gloucestershire under water.

Cllr Turner’s motion calls for the council to take decisive action on its climate change commitments. Read the full motion below, and watch her speech here.

Council Notes: 

• That this authority declared a climate emergency in May 2019, with a goal to reach net zero by 2030, and as a member of UK100, has committed to deliver a carbon neutral county by 2045 (with an 80% reduction by 2030).

• That the Glasgow Climate Pact recognises a crucial role for communities and local authorities. By “recognizing the important role of … local communities and civil society, including youth and children, in addressing and responding to climate change, and highlighting the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action” the Pact makes plain the need for action at every level of government and society. Furthermore, the Pact explicitly calls on us “to actively involve … local communities in designing and implementing climate action”.

• That shortly before COP26, the UK government published its Net Zero Strategy, which includes the intention to establish a Net Zero Forum to coordinate the strategy with local government. 

Council believes:

• That despite the wholehearted efforts of Alok Sharma MP and others, COP26 failed to provide the national targets to put the world on course for limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5C, and failed to commit to the phasing out of fossil fuels and to the carbon price mechanisms needed to shift the world economy from them. 

• That the Climate Change Committee is correct when it states that it is “crucial for the [Net Zero] Forum to promptly develop an agreed understanding of the role of local government in delivering Net Zero.”

Council resolves, in line with the Glasgow Climate Pact and associated declarations: 

Local climate leadership:

• To complete the delivery of Carbon Literacy training for council staff and members by December 2022, to ensure we are consistent in addressing the climate emergency across our activities. 

• To undertake a robust review of our 2019 Climate Change Strategy and associated Action Plan, and to ensure that other council strategies developed or reviewed from this point are congruent with the renewed Climate Change Strategy.

• To recognise a hierarchy of action with direct investment in facilities, infrastructure and changes to services first, with carbon off-setting as a last resort.

• To provide leadership with the issue of clear and regular (monthly) guidance and information on the path to net zero through the Greener Gloucestershire campaign, with transparency regarding the council’s work, and honesty with regard to the changes in homes, transport and diets required of us all. To lend the council’s commitment and authority to the newly established body Climate Leadership Gloucestershire, and to support and learn from neighbouring councils and other partners as they bring forward plans for decarbonising their own activities and supply chains, identifying and engaging in opportunities for working together. 

Sustainable production and consumption:

• To accelerate our work on waste reduction, circular economy initiatives, sustainable food strategies and natural carbon capture, in particular on the council-owned rural estate. To consider the potential for a Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage system for the Waste to Energy facility at Javelin Park, especially if funding from BEIS is made available, as has been suggested.
• To expand our work on new renewables projects on county-owned land/buildings and in partnership with other landowners, and to continue to review our existing energy procurement to maximise the efficiency and sustainability of supply. 

Active Travel:

• To build on recent active travel bid successes for our urban areas, and step up funding efforts for our rural districts where public transport options are limited. To ensure timely delivery of commitments in our Local Transport Plan and Bus Service Improvement Plan with regard to active, public and shared transport. 

Finance:

• To request that the Pension Committee review the allocation of passive funds in the Council’s pension scheme as part of the upcoming MTFS exercise (if not sooner), and consider moving these passive funds to the new Paris Aligned Benchmark Passive Fund offered by the Brunel Pension Partnership for schemes within its pool. 

• To bring forward proposals for a local Green Investment Bond, as promoted by the LGA, to enable our communities to invest in local green infrastructure projects. 

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Here is our reaction:

“GCC has already wasted over half a million pounds on trying to keep secret, and defend, a contract that even its own auditors cannot prove was lawful. This comes on top of the £163 million that the disputed 25-year contract is now forecast to cost over and above the original amount disclosed to local taxpayers in 2013. To now spend at least £30,000 more of local tax-payers’ money on trying to close down a community group that raised legitimate concerns over the contract is scandalous.

This shameful, bullying behaviour is not what the residents of Gloucestershire should expect of their council. Our local authority has not been able to show that its actions were legal, yet now it is pursuing an egregious and spiteful vendetta against residents. Why? This action is as irresponsible and pointless as it is costly, because CR4C has less than £100 in the bank; if GCC were to win their case there could be no possible financial benefit; all that could be achieved is to silence any opposition to Javelin Park and send a warning to others never to question the council’s actions. This has dangerous implications for democracy.

It’s bizarre that the leadership of GCC has decided to victimise a volunteer-run organisation that has the good of Gloucestershire people – and the planet – as its primary concern. There is a better option: for GCC to engage with community groups and residents so that we can deal with the climate emergency together, and to commit to a renewed culture of transparency.”

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In the report, presented today (Tuesday) to Gloucestershire County Council’s audit committee, the auditors, Grant Thornton, said: “The material we have so far considered is insufficient to enable us to reach a firm conclusion as to the lawfulness under procurement law of the modifications.”

They blamed the time that had passed since a revised contract was signed in 2016, the complexity of the case and the difficulty in comparing the contract with energy-from-waste contracts elsewhere.

Green county councillor Chloe Turner, a member of the audit committee, said: “Our local authorities must be able to prove that their actions are legal and that they operate in the best interests of local residents and the wider environment. Outrageously, it has not been possible to prove that the largest public procurement project ever entered into by GCC was lawful. Even if it was lawful, the secrecy over the contract – with even elected councillors kept in the dark about the details – leaves a cloud hanging over this council.”

The report, produced in response to claims by members of the recycling and waste group Community R4C that the contract was not value for money, has been long anticipated, and was expected before the local elections in May. When it was again delayed until after local voters had been to the polls, the chair of the council’s own audit committee accused the council of suppressing the report for political reasons.    

The auditors found that the council should have done more to ensure that the Javelin Park incinerator operators, UBB, did not benefit disproportionately from an amendment to the contract in 2016, which increased the cost of the contract by over £100m. The council has previously admitted it was in a weak negotiating position when it came to the revised contract, and the Grant Thornton report suggests that the legal advice given to the council at the time – which said it didn’t have to consider this aspect – was “erroneous”.

Cllr Turner said: “The council relying upon faulty legal advice for a 25-year contract is a matter of serious concern. But Gloucestershire taxpayers are now stuck with a 25-year, £600m commitment, as it appears nothing can be done as it stands to exit the Javelin Park contract. What we can – and must – do is learn from this and make major changes to the procurement process to ensure that all future contracts are properly scrutinised and totally transparent.”

Cllr Turner, who is a chartered accountant, added that she was “deeply concerned” about the fact that GCC’s auditor, Grant Thornton, was fined £2.3million this week by the Financial Reporting Council for what the FRC called “a serious lack of competence” in conducting the audit for another client, café chain Patisserie Valerie. In a statement the FRC said that audit involved “missed red flags, a failure to obtain sufficient audit evidence and a failure to stand back and question information provided by management”. 

Cllr Turner said: “We can only hope that the failings highlighted by the FRC were not present in Grant Thornton’s audit of the Javelin Park contract.”

A further concern is how difficult it is for residents to have their objections listened to. CR4C’s case has always been ruled out of consideration on technicalities, and they were denied the opportunity to bid for the contract themselves on the grounds that they were not an “economic operator”. 

And this week, members of the public were given only days between publication of the report and the deadline for submission of questions about it for the audit committee to consider.

Cllr Turner said: “For the sake of transparency and trust, it has to be easier for residents and communities to scrutinise council decisions. The reluctance of Gloucestershire County Council to consider objections – and allow public discussion of constructive ways forward for waste management – has been perhaps the biggest reason for this saga to continue for eight years, with frustrating and costly interactions with lawyers and auditors.”

Green campaigners have been central to bringing scrutiny to the incinerator project, with successive Green Party members of the County Council calling for greater contracting transparency, and local activists responsible for the Freedom of Information requests that led to the revelation of contract cost increases of over £100m in the 2016 contract. Local party member Tim Davies has written extensively on the issues here.

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