An elected representative should be a person who has the information required to come up with solutions that address issues raised by constituents - not well funded lobby groups or party whips.

Full statement

Greens are not only environmentalists but also independent individuals.

Individual voters have their own lives to lead, they may not have the time, interest or the information with which to see the best solution - a Councillor should to that job for them.,

My job as an elected Green representative would be to listen to the issues raised by all voters - not just for the Greens. I would see how they could be addressed in an environmentally sustainable and socially, multi culturally acceptable way. I may not have the answers myself but I will have the time and the support required to find the right people to ask.

I would check the validity of the requests by establishing the level of support for them. It is not possible to give everyone everything they may want - simply because the desires may well contradict each other. Also, it could be that I may be asked to do something that does not feel very ‘Green’. In that case I would dig deeper and see why the question was asked and find a better, greener way to address it - one that would not only be acceptable to everyone but also be possible to achieve.

I do not believe that anything should be rejected on a matter of cost. There are many ways to get things done and some of them do not need financial support. Communities would be encouraged and enabled to continue and expand their work - not as a charity, but as a social benefit for all - indeed a universal right.

Greens address the causes of problems, not just cover them up or clear away the mess as if nothing had happened.