1. The climate emergency should be an explicit and integral consideration in all local authority decision making.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
It is the biggest issue facing humanity
Munson, Rowan – Green
Strongly agree
The climate emergency is an existential threat. Green Councillors in Oxford successfully proposed that Oxford declare a climate and ecological emergency in January 2019. We’ve heard lots of words since then, but with little action!
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Strongly agree
Apart from the current COVID19 crisis this is the biggest threat to our planet
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Strongly agree
2. I support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – Green
Strongly agree
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). The city council motion also urged the city’s Labour MP to support the bill, but they have refused to do so.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Strongly agree
3. Motorised traffic in and through Oxford should be reduced 50% below present levels by 2030, to limit air pollution and increase space for cyclists and pedestrians.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Too much priority given to motorised traffic at present
Munson, Rowan – Green
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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
In order to reduce air pollution and create a better environment for pedestrians and cyclists
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Agree
Precise level isn’t important especially if the vehicles are ZEVs; the important bit is they’re not deleterious to the quality of public transit or active travel
4. 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.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – Green
Strongly agree
15-minute neighbourhoods form a key part of our 2021 Oxford City Council manifesto alongside policies to deliver the necessary transport ad planning changes. The greens have been championing this in discussions on the Local Plan.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Strongly agree
5. All new homes built in Oxfordshire should be built to zero carbon standards.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – 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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Agree
Though the tradeoff between more expensive / fewer zero-carbon homes and less expensive / more low-carbon homes is not straightforward considering e.g. social housing wait lists
6. Local authorities should introduce policies and measures to enable all homes in Oxford and Oxfordshire to achieve an EPC rating of C or higher by 2035.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – Green
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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Strongly agree
7. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council should introduce policies that support the installation of renewable energy sources.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – 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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Agree
Similarly to previous question, this is a good use of funds but will compete in the budget with shorter-term but also valid needs
8. Local authorities should use every available mechanism (including the planning system, grants and others), and support and enable innovation, to phase out fossil fuel use across Oxford, including domestic, business and industrial use as well as use in their own buildings and operations.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – 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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Strongly agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Strongly agree
9. The creation, protection and restoration of biodiversity and green spaces for all should be a priority for local authorities including the development of a Nature Recovery Network.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – 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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Neither agree or disagree
Focusing first on the 90%+ of UK land that is not urbanised seems likely to get more bang for your buck, so from a City perspective I see this as a lower priority
10. As Oxfordshire County Council candidate, I support the doubling of tree cover in Oxfordshire by 2045; AND/OR: As Oxford City Council candidate, I support Oxford making a significant contribution to doubling tree cover in Oxfordshire by 2045.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Neither agree or disagree
Trees are important, but so are other habitats
Munson, Rowan – Green
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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Agree
More so for county, where this can be done on former agricultural land, which will be cheaper and more effective than pursuing the policy in the city.
11. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council should introduce policies that support the development of a food system which promotes local production and use of agro-ecological methods (ie sustainable farming methods that work with nature).
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Agree
Munson, Rowan – Green
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).
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Agree
Smowton, Chris – Liberal Democrat
Agree
Less harmful methods: yes. Trying to grow everything locally though is in conflict with efficiency, which in turn reduces cost of living. Considering transport is a small contributor to food production emissions, that tradeoff is not obvious. Immediately after severing ties with the EU is also maybe not the best time for insularity / mercantilism.
12. Finally, in 100 words or less, please describe what you plan to contribute to ensuring a green and just recovery in Oxford/ Oxfordshire.
Hitchins, Ray – Green
Munson, Rowan – 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.
Sinclair, Dee – Labour Co-operative
Work in partnership to improve our green spaces in terms of biodiversity. To enhance verges and smaller green spaces working with small community groups to improve their own local environment and encourage a community ownership of these spaces
