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Greens to debate hot topic
Green Party councillors in Sheffield are proposing £10 million of council investment for home insulation and renewable energy for city residents.
The plans are the main feature of the group's budget, which will be debated alongside the financial plans of the ruling Liberal Democrat and opposition Labour councillors at a special full council meeting tomorrow.
The three Green councillors will argue prolonged cold weather and rising fuel bills mean many people may die because they "have to choose between heating and eating".
Coun Bernard Little said: "Our biggest scheme would save the council millions of pounds through insulation and energy generation.
"Why buy in all the energy when we could generate half of it ourselves? The savings in fuel bills would repay the investment in just 10 years.
"We want to cut householders' bills by putting forward a pot of money that can be used to install renewable energy for private homes. People could just pay us back when they sell their house."
The Green budget also includes scrapping Lib Dem plans for council staff cuts, shifting investment from highways to public transport and pedestrian safety, and using parks and other open spaces for food production.
The Green figures have not yet been finalised, but councillors will be challenged to explain how they would make the changes without a massive council tax increase.
Lib Dem proposals will put council tax up 1.5 per cent, while Labour plans would mean a one per cent rise.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
