Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Green Councillors in Oxford successfully proposed that Oxford declare a climate and ecological emergency in January 2019. There have been lots of words since then (e.g. talk of a 2040 zero carbon target for the City with no funding and an incomplete action plan) – but no measurable progress.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

Only integral and inclusive responses from local authorities can be effective.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

because everyone needs to take more care over where we all live.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

We have ambitious carbon reduction and recycling targets which we’re meeting; our Local Plan has measures to reduce car dependency and one of the toughest low-carbon housing requirements of any Council. Of course more must and will be done.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

It was Green Councillors in Oxford that successfully proposed a motion to the City Council in support of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (co-sponsored by Green MP Caroline Lucas). This motion urged MPs to support the Bill although – to date – the City’s Labour MP has refused to do so.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

was Green Councillors in Oxford that successfully proposed a motion to the City Council in support of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (co-sponsored by Green MP Caroline Lucas). This motion urged MPs to support the Bill although – to date – the City’s Labour MP has refused to do so. (source: https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=27280)

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

earth wont last forever.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

Council can only do so much; national government must take the lead on the climate emergency. Our local Citizens’ Assembly was really successful and should be replicated on a wider scale.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

A 50% target is broadly in line with the independent research commissioned for the Oxford Citizen’s Assembly which the Greens have supported. By 2030, this indicates a minimum 25% reduction in travel by car combined with an 8% shift towards more sustainable travel modes and diminishing use of fossil-fuelled vehicles.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

50% target is broadly in line with the independent research commissioned for the Oxford Citizen’s Assembly which the Greens have supported. By 2030, this indicates a minimum 25% reduction in travel by car combined with an 8% shift towards more sustainable travel modes and diminishing use of fossil-fuelled vehicles.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Disagree

I would probably ban all traffic from the centre unless it has a city centre destination or permit.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

Our Local Plan contains measures to reduce car dependency and provide for low-car and no-car development. More powers are needed over local public transport.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

The Greens submitted amendments to this effect to the Local Plan enquiry – although not all recommendations were accepted. 15-minute neighbourhoods form a key part of our 2021 Oxford City Council manifesto alongside policies to deliver the necessary transport ad planning changes.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

Development decisions (planning and housing) should design out car-dependency and facilitate the creation of 15 minute neighbourhoods, where residents can access all daily goods and services within a 15 minute walk. The Greens submitted amendments to this effect to the Local Plan enquiry – although not all recommendations were accepted. 15-minute neighbourhoods form a key part of our 2021 Oxford City Council manifesto alongside policies to deliver the necessary transport ad planning changes.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Neither agree or disagree

i havn’t had a car for over a year, i have used the really slow bus transport which takes 3 times longer than when i used a car. So i cant agree strongly to this question.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

Much of this is in our Local Plan. Where we do large-scale development (as in Barton) this includes improving local shops and community facilities.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

This is not in the current Local Plan – despite submissions from the Greens pointing out this was technically and legally possible. Also, the City Council typically uses a ‘non-standard’ definition of zero carbon buildings which excludes unregulated loads (‘plug in’ appliances). These can make up more than 25% of emissions.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

All new homes built in Oxfordshire should be built to zero carbon standards. This is not in the current Local Plan – despite submissions from the Greens pointing out this was technically and legally possible. Also, the City Council typically uses a ‘non-standard’ definition of zero carbon buildings which excludes unregulated loads (‘plug in’ appliances). These can make up more than 25% of emissions.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

Not only that, they need to be built to a much better standard.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Agree

I agree ideally, though the capacity is not currently there in local authority finance or the British construction industry – and Brexit hasn’t helped. We’re doing what we can to move to zero-carbon standards, and seek to pressure national government to take this seriously and help local areas.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

59% of homes in Oxford are rated EPC ‘D’ or below with <5% of households having taken advantage of energy company obligation improvement measures. The current Cosy Homes project needs to be massively expanded, with Council support, Energiesprong retrofits introduced for Council-own properties, and tougher energy criteria introduced for landlords.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

59% of homes in Oxford are rated EPC ‘D’ or below with <5% of households having taken advantage of energy company obligation improvement measures. The current Cosy Homes project needs to be massively expanded, with Council support, Energiesprong retrofits introduced for Council-own properties, and tougher energy criteria introduced for landlords.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Neither agree or disagree

If i knew what EPC was i might agree more

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Agree

We’re working up a plan to achieve this in Council housing by 2030. We lack the legal powers to compel modification of exiting properties, but have adopted a requirement for all new homes which is well above current legal standards.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Ambitions are modest and not backed up by robust policy. The Greens want cheap Council borrowing to be used to invest in e.g. solar farms delivering against climate and financial goals. When this was proposed by the Greens, the City Council instead decided to speculate £20m on commercial properties.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

Ambitions are modest and not backed up by robust policy. The Greens want cheap Council borrowing to be used to invest in e.g. solar farms delivering against climate and financial goals. When this was proposed by the Greens, the City Council instead decided to speculate £20m on commercial properties.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

Depends on whose money they are spending.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

We are doing this already, with PV installations, our financial and practical support for the Low Carbon Hub, and plans for an electrical energy storage facility.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

There is no plan to do this – despite the City having adopted, under pressure from the Greens, a 2040 net zero carbon target. Without massive local investment in e.g. solar, hydro and battery storage, we cannot decarbonise rapidly enough. By 2030, we need 20x current amount of local renewable energy.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

There is no plan to do this – despite the City having adopted, under pressure from the Greens, a 2040 net zero carbon target. Without massive local investment in e.g. solar, hydro and battery storage, we cannot decarbonise rapidly enough. By 2030, we need 20x current amount of local renewable energy.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

But this doesn’t mean change it if it is not broken.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Agree

Absolutely agree and we are working with businesses on this as well as assessing our own buildings.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

The City Council do not even have an up-to-date biodiversity action plan and rely on the weak protection offered by the Local Plan. Meanwhile many sites rich in biodiversity are under threat from urbanisation whilst brownfields sites remain under-developed. The Greens recently won tentative Council support for a new National Park to the north-east of the City.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

The City Council do not even have an up-to-date biodiversity action plan and rely on the weak protection offered by the Local Plan. Meanwhile many sites rich in biodiversity are under threat from urbanisation whilst brownfields sites remain under-developed. The Greens recently won tentative Council support for a new National Park to the north-east of the City.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Agree

Maintain our green spaces for residents is important, to try and build on even the smallest spare bit of green space should be avoided where possible.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

Yes indeed. I’ve consistently made the case for development to reflect the need for green space and to protect and enhance biodiversity, and I’ll continue to do so where there are plans that seem to threaten that.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Greens support the FoE campaign to double tree cover and have actively supported community tree planting campaigns, e.g. in Marston, and argued for more City grant funding for such groups. At the same time we are trying to ensure that more existing trees are protected with preservation orders.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

Greens support the FoE campaign to double tree cover and have actively supported community tree planting campaigns, e.g. in Marston, and argued for more City grant funding for such groups. At the same time we are trying to ensure that more existing trees are protected with preservation .

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Trees are good, good for air quality and good for the visual effect of where you live, plant more and look after them.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Strongly agree

Keen to do this and as well as supporting the City Council’s efforts I’m supporting local groups in my ward who want to plant trees.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Greens recently won Council support for a new Oxford Food Strategy bringing together the health, social and environmental dimensions of our food supply chains and to reduce inequalities. They also support local food businesses and agroecological methods to reduce the use of fossil fuels and sequester carbon (among other reasons).

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Strongly agree

Greens recently won Council support for a new Oxford Food Strategy bringing together the health, social and environmental dimensions of our food supply chains and to reduce inequalities. They also support local food businesses and agroecological methods to reduce the use of fossil fuels and sequester carbon (among other reasons).

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

Neither agree or disagree

Now that Brexit has upset the balance of food imports from the EU countries, we will probably have to.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

Agree

This is obviously a good thing. We have hardly any farming land in Oxford but can no doubt have a small effect through procurement policies.

Hurt, Stephen – Green

Our Green New Deal for Oxford addresses the climate emergency by delivering a decarbonised, more localised circular economy, with a funded net zero target, reflecting recent societal shifts, while addressing the housing crisis and inequality. Councils need to invest in renewable energy projects, rewrite Local Plan policies for sustainable buildings, and meet social housing needs. We will reduce pollution by improved, sustainable public transport, better cycling provision, and support for the electrification of transport by expanding the high voltage vehicle charging network. Green spaces and biodiversity must be enhanced, within a broader commitment to improving public health and our environment.

Pohl, Nicole – Green

Our Green New Deal for Oxford addresses the climate emergency by delivering a decarbonised, more localised circular economy, with a funded net zero target, reflecting recent societal shifts, while addressing the housing crisis and inequality. Councils need to invest in renewable energy projects, rewrite Local Plan policies for sustainable buildings, and meet social housing needs. We will reduce pollution by improved, sustainable public transport, better cycling provision, and support for the electrification of transport by expanding the high voltage vehicle charging network. Green spaces and biodiversity must be enhanced, within a broader commitment to improving public health and our environment.

Rogers, Paul – Liberal Democrat

As a first time candidate i would be loyal to the division i would be serving, and try my best to ensure that the residents are served well by Oxford City Council.

Rowley, Mike – Labour

As the City Council’s social housing lead, my two priorities are to aim for zero carbon wherever possible in new development, and to bring all our existing Council housing up to a good standard of energy efficiency by 2030 at the latest.