Sheffield is facing unsettling times

6th March 2009

Bernard's speech on the Budget.

"Sheffield..... like everywhere else in the world is facing
unsettling times.
Unsettling times brought about as a result of three interlocking
problems.

The first is the credit crunch and global financial crisis
caused by blind faith in the free market. The apparent economic
certainties of the past have finally come unstuck.

In 2007 Sheffield experienced a huge flood, part of a global
trend of extreme weather events that have accelerated since
2000. Who knows what further instability will come about as CO2
levels build.

Last year fuel prices went through the roof. They have come down
now but will go up again if there is any upturn in a high carbon
economy. The fact is fossil fuels are finite. It makes planning
ahead very difficult.

These three challenges of economic instability, fuel supply
uncertainty and climate change must be faced head on. The time
for ducking and diving is up and we have to deliver.

Sheffield must seize the day and put together a budget that will
begin to chart a future of new jobs in a local and low carbon
economy. Real jobs and improved lives ....and skills that will
rapidly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Jobs that are geared to meets our needs, not the insatiable
needs of a “beggar your neighbour” global market.

The Green Group welcome that fact that it is not only Barack
Obama..... with $150 billion given to renewable energy
projects ...who has seen that a Green New deal is now the way
forward.

The Local Government Association report “Creating Green Jobs”
has shown that greening the local economy could provide
sustainable jobs.

The Centre for Cities report “Cities Outlook for 2009”, has
demonstrated that cites that forge effective transport and
economic links with their surrounding towns and villages have
greater prosperity. The report highlights the link between fuel
poverty, social and economic deprivation and high carbon
emissions.
We need to act decisively and quickly.

The new Integrated Transport Authority will need to operate so
that Sheffield becomes a hub within a city region.

We need to radically review the planning guidance in the
Sheffield Development Framework so that it really implement the
five guiding principles of Sustainable Development. Lip service
to these principles are no longer acceptable. Sustainable
Development as set out in the government report “Securing the
Future” is not an optional extra but essential guidance to meet
the pressing challenges of the 21stCentury.

Sheffield's Economic and City Centre Master plans and the Local
Transport Plan will need to be re-written in order to respond to
the new economic, social and environmental challenges. The sort
of skills being proposed in next weeks report to cabinet needs a
radical rethink. We would expect completely unsustainable
regional plans.... like the Northern Way.... to be redrawn in
conjunction with the other Core Cities.

As we set the budget for the coming year...... the question we
must ask ourself here is ...... have me we become so ingrained
in a way of thinking that we will become a victim to a chaotic
future?
Or..... as founder of the water powered global industrial
revolution....is Sheffield prepared to lead the world again and
respond to the new economic social and environmental challenges
that face us?

The Green Party budget before you is bound by legal constraints
of a central government out of touch with reality and firmly
stuck in the past. A properly financed Green New Deal would cost
between £50 and £70 billion a year. We submit that what we have
here is not nearly enough but...given these constraints... it is
our response to provide new jobs and an optimistic future.”