Pressure builds on new leader over green plans
Spectators across the political spectrum are waiting to see how the de facto new leader will steer Bath and North East Somerset Council.
On one side, leaked emails indicate Greens voters are urging new Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Kevin Guy – the party’s nominee to replace Cllr Dine Romero as council leader – to honour the party’s manifesto pledges and drive a green agenda.
On the other, Conservatives say the administration must urgently rethink its “skewed” priorities and put post-pandemic economic recovery ahead of environmental issues.
Meanwhile, Labour supported the green agenda but said the Lib Dems need to give more to support struggling families.
In leaked emails written in a personal capacity, former Green candidate Vipul Patel told Cllr Guy that Green voters had lent the Lib Dems their support after promising action on pollution, traffic congestion, people-friendly streets and ecological and climate action.
After Greens helped the party secure “landslide” wins, he said he was “alarmed” that at least two Lib Dem councillors were “actively working against the election promises they made and that were overwhelmingly voted for by the city and their wards”.
Mr Patel – who stood for election in the Walcot ward in 2015 and in the Abbey by-election in 2016 – asked Cllr Guy for reassurance the administration would do better and “stop any further attempts to undermine and block the election promises made”.
Cllr Romero announced “with great sadness” on April 1 that she was stepping down as council leader with immediate effect. Deputy leader Cllr Richard Samuel is filling her shoes until a vote to confirm Cllr Guy next month.
Mr Patel suggested Cllr Romero’s sudden departure was due to infighting because the administration was not acting quickly enough to deliver on its manifesto, and said the Greens were likewise frustrated at the “inexplicably sluggish pace”.
The council’s active travel proposals for North Road were cited as a particular example.
Mr Patel wrote to Cllr Guy: “What hope does that leave of even approaching your commitments on the genuinely difficult promises on climate and ecological emergencies, let alone a 2030 net zero target?
“You rose to the challenge called for by the scientists and the public but are tripping over a non-existent hurdle of a single road, a trial consultation.”
Cllr Guy has said he will use the pre-election period to formulate his policies.
Conservative group leader Cllr Paul Myers is urging him to rethink “draconian” city centre security measures that will restrict vehicular access, and tread carefully on introducing low traffic neighbourhoods that risk displacing traffic.
He said: “We were surprised to hear of the resignation of Cllr Romero after just two years as leader of the council, and we wish her well in future endeavours.
“However, far from offering an opportunity to Green Party elements in the Lib Dem camp to demand ever more extreme measures, this offers a perfect opportunity for the administration to take stock and reflect upon the damage some of their policies are having on the people of Bath and North East Somerset.
“The misguided and dogmatic pursuit of their anti-motoring agenda along with policies that will see parking charges increase and new charges apply at the recycling centre will only be detrimental to residents and businesses.
“This at a time when the council should be doing all it possibly can to support people as we begin to recover from the pandemic, while of course recognising the importance of the climate emergency.
“We are therefore calling on the administration to rethink their policies for Bath and North East Somerset and the serious long-term consequences for residents and businesses of sacrificing the local economy and jobs in order to win the badge as the country’s premier climate emergency zealots.”
Labour group leader Robin Moss said: “We said at the budget meeting we understood the main priority of the Lib Dems was the green agenda but they should be doing more to help struggling families.
“Some of the green initiatives are going to be challenging. You need to make sure you take people along with you. People can’t do that if they’re losing their jobs or on Universal Credit.
“We support the principle of green initiatives but it needs to be one priority among a number.”