Malcolm stated “The Council must seize the opportunity provided by the development of more efficient, cost effective technologies as well as by the innovative solutions and business models offered by local companies that are tailored to the needs of councils’ housing….

As we have heard in the debate, these schemes are not without risks and challenges, in terms of upfront costs and ensuring equity of benefit across the tenant base for example. However, a feasibility study of the current market models will investigate what viable, practical options are available for Councils and is therefore worth exploring.
It is noted that the council’s retrofit programme will now include the possible options of solar PV and battery storage to be considered alongside the fabric improvements to the building to raise the energy performance ratings. Here is an opportunity to investigate how the council could scale up and crucially speed up this process of
decarbonisation of housing. By outsourcing to one of the local companies who are now running these schemes, there is very little extra staffing resource required. It could also have the added benefit of stimulating green business in our local economy.

Read the Public Document pack HERE

In supporting this motion, we are showing leadership in making a very strong commitment to further reducing carbon and providing housing fit for the future. In the face of this uncertainty surrounding future local
government arrangements, we will send a clear message to council staff, residents and neighbouring authorities about our ambition to achieve the best possible housing for our tenants within any future combined unitary
authority.And so what about the tenants? From attending Housing committee meetings, it is notable how the council’s housing department put theneeds of our tenants at the heart of their decisions.

This motion gives usan opportunity to explore how solar panels could unlock further benefits for tenants- lower energy bills in the face of yet more price increases, more comfortable, healthy housing fit for the future, energy resilience in increasingly turbulent times.
I am grateful to Cllr Wallace for his work over many months researching these schemes and to the officers and the housing portfolio holder who
gave up their time to discuss and help shape the motion you are presented with. A truly collaborative effort which I hope you feel you can support.
Thank you.

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Delivering new year cards

Our non relenting team of volunteers managed to deliver 12,000 new Year cards. This covered the Meon Valley County ward for which Malcolm Wallace is Councillor and incorporates Whiteley, Curbridge, Shedfield, Waltham Chase, Swanmore, Meonstoke, Warnford and Hambledon to name just a few places.

In the Winchester District Wards a huge number were also distributed.

Delivering so many by hand in the rain, wind and cold of January was no mean task, but as always,our Team was up to the challenge and a good time was had by all.

Are you able to help with delivering newsletters and leaflets to people’s homes? Any help, no matter how much time you can give us, would be greatly appreciated. Go to our ‘Get Involved page for more details.

Coiuncillor Surgery in Droxford

Once again St.Wilfred’s Cafe kindly gave us permission to use their premises and as always it was well attended by local residents keen to speak about their issues, concerns or just to ask more for more details of the goings on in Winchester District and County Councils.

Please keep your eyes on our facebook, bluesky, instagram and X-Twitter pages for times and places in other areas.

our annual general meeting 8th.january

Joint Co-ordinator Max Priesemann gave a presentation of our progress and achievements in 2024.

There are some changes to our Team. New appointments as follows….

Communications Officer; Virginia Ainscough
Membership Secretary; Liam Bailey-Morgan
Database and Protection Officer; Luke Ainscough

You can see the full team on our People page here.

It was also announced that our other Joint Co-ordinator Kate Needham has been selected as Elections Co-ordinator for our regional South East Green Party. This is as well as her role for Winchester Greens.

our first ‘green chat’ of 2025

Once again we met at Projects Kitchen and Store in Winchester. With another three popping in and out to say hello, we were sixteen in total, a great sign of how these mornings are growing to be a very popular event amongst green minded people and of course, just having a chat in general.

The post A busy start to the year for winchester greens appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

The post Out and about photos from autumn ’24 appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

Last week two of our three Councillors, Danny Lee and Malcolm Wallace attended the annual South East Green Party Conference in which many topics were discussed including of course, congratulations on all our recent Council elections.

The post South East Green Party Councillor’s Conference appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

The weather stayed good for us and the walk alongside the river was quite a treat with some interesting wildlife observations which included dragon flies, various beetles and a deer making a dash through the long grass.

Summer gives us a good opportunity for getting out and about, to enjoy the scenery we are blessed with, but also highlights some of the concerns such as bird and invertebrate numbers which are rapidly declining.

More outdoor events are planned before summer’s end, so please keep an eye on our digital newsletters and the Events page on this website.

The post A walk around St.Clair’s Nature Reserve Soberton appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

If the Housing Strategy is to work closely with Parish Councils to locate sites across the district in line with housing demands then more action needs to be apparent.
Defra’s ‘Unleashing Rural Opportunity’ approach by expanding the Rural Housing Enablers scheme can be a catalyst to unlock potential in rural areas and is therefore most welcome. This support in tandem with opportunities to work with ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is equally welcome. ACRE is a charity that supports initiatives to equip people with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to improve local communities.
These helpful pathways reduce the barriers for Parish Councils and Winchester City Council to identify any rural housing demands under the Winchester Housing Strategy.
Look forward to seeing the unleashing of any rural opportunities!

See the Hampshire Chronicle article here.. https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/…/24098973…/…

The post A lack of Affordable housing – Cllr. Danny Lee speaks out appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

In the past year there has been next to no progress on improving alternative travel options in the District, Cllr.Wallace used his statement to highlight that fact.

To watch Cllr.Wallace’s statement, scroll through video to 38mins.

Read the Hampshire Chronicle article HERE

The post Cllr. Malcolm Wallace speaks out at City Council Cabinet Meeting on ‘Greenwashing’ appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

After the formalities and reports by Committee Role Players at our Annual General Meeting on the 3rd.January, we were delighted to welcome Emily Kerr, Oxford City Councillor for the St.Mary’s Ward who gave a very detailed and positive presentation on ‘Active Travel’.

CLICK TO VIEW PRESENTATION

You will see from the attached Presentation file what they have achieved so far and their ambitions for the future, mainly to reduce car traffic in the City by 25% with a target date of 2030.

Oxford has six Green Party Councillors and the Presentation showed precisely what Greens can do for a better environment, as they have done and will do in Winchester !

With our City Council elections just round the corner, if you would like to help us achieve more Councillors, please look at the ‘Get Involved’ page on this website.

The post Presentation ‘Active Travel’ appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

A massive thanks go to SoberNewts members who took care of tea, coffee, and biscuit duties, the staff at Rookesbury Hall for running a great facility, Councillor Danny Lee for his input and for taking our messages back to our City Council, and Stu Mills from Winchester representing WinACC and Climate Action Newtworks, who gave us an opening talk and of course, to all those who attended.

It was a wonderful, nicely-noisy, thoughtful, creative, enthusiastic, and productive meeting.

We enjoyed a really good turnout, almost everyone stayed for the full two hours. Many local residents obviously care about climate related issues and opportunities right here on our doorstep.

The hall had discussion tables representing different subject areas such as Transport, Waste, Recycling, Energy, and Food. We rotated around the hall and spent time at each table. Feedback was captured on table sheets, Post-It notes, then tokens in voting jars to identify the groups priorities.

Councillor Danny Lee with Suzanne White (click photos for full size}

There is no shortage of really good experience in our villages, we have a number of quiet experts as our neighbours, many have valuable personal experience on subjects ranging from electric cars, food cooking and locally sourcing, to improving their heating systems. Those experiences were happily shared, thoughts exchanged and advice ideas for the future offered.

The one word I’d describe the meeting is ‘positive!’. It was a pleasure to listen-in to what people had to say and hear their thoughts on how together we might make things better for all of us.

…. and this was just the first meeting!

The post Soberton Newtown Climate Cafe a great success appeared first on Winchester Green Party.

Our Green Party Councillor Danny Lee was glad to support the adoption of the declaration of a ‘Nature Emergency’ by Winchester City Council (WCC) on 20 September 2023.

Based on his original draft for the cancelled Full Council meeting in July, it was proposed by the Portfolio lead for the Climate Emergency and seconded by the Green Party.It was passed unanimously!
https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=13195

We all now look forward to translating the ‘Nature Emergency’ declaration into proactive action.

You can view the Motion being discussed here.

Scroll to 1hr 14mins.

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