It’s exciting to be writing this first ever Green Group column, just one of many firsts this year!
Our official birth was at the LGA’s annual conference in July, with an exciting first plenary featuring party Leader Zack Polanski.
Strengthening is the key aim now. To ensure a strong Green voice within the LGA, our newly elected executive has appointed scores of representatives to LGA policy committees.
To ensure the strongest links with parliamentarians and the national party, we were delighted to appoint Green MPs Siân Berry, Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay as our new LGA vice-presidents, alongside existing vice-presidents Natalie Bennett and Jenny Jones, in the Lords.
“We need the strongest possible councils and councillors”
We also need the strongest possible councils and councillors. Local government is tough right now. With the financial straitjacket and (for many) the car crash of local government reorganisation, the support that the LGA provides has never been more important.
Thank you to the group’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Matt Edwards, and Lead Peer Cllr Sue Shanks, who are focused on the LGA’s support offer and setting up new regional support systems; and to the LGA staff who have worked so hard to get us set up in recordbreaking time. Our newly appointed Head of Group Office, Grace Duffy, will be running the office from October, just in time for Green Party conference.