Green Party leader Caroline Lucas championed the impact the party was having on local areas in her annual conference speech.

Held in Sheffield this year, the speech also focused on attacking Libdem ‘betrayals’ on the NHS and tuition fees.

But Lucas dedicated a substantial part of her speech playing up achievements by Green councillors in Brighton and Hove – the first council in the UK run by the party.

We have been trusted with a budget of over £700 million pounds a year. Working on behalf of 250,000 residents. Running 35 primary schools. Providing critical services to thousands of vulnerable people. And supporting hundreds of businesses and social enterprises.

Our first 100 days have been very busy – but very productive too. Tackling inequality is a major priority. Greens are promoting a Living Wage for the city.

Already, around 340 of the lowest paid council staff and school workers are set to see their wages rise to £7.19 an hour. A Living Wage Commission starts work in October, with business leaders, public sector bodies and trade unions all taking part. We’ve taken steps to reduce the ratio between the highest and lowest paid council workers.

And we’ve started with both the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council taking a voluntary reduction in their salaries.

We’re working with partners to increase the number of apprenticeships available in the most deprived areas of the city. And we’re exploring all possible avenues to provide more affordable and sustainable homes, as well as a Tenants Scrutiny Panel to give council tenants the right to scrutinize any issue of concern to them about the way their homes are managed.

We want a Greener city too, of course. One of the first announcements of the Green administration was the launch of the largest programme of solar panel installation ever seen in the city. Clean energy and local jobs. The Green New Deal in action.

The full speech is here.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Lucas champions Green council achievements http://t.co/1D5oz2R

2. Camden Green Party

   Lucas champions Green council achievements http://t.co/1D5oz2R

3. Samir Jeraj

   Lucas champions Green council achievements http://t.co/1D5oz2R

4. Phil BC

   Sad to say, few Labour councils can match this one for radicalism and tackling inequality: http://t.co/IAjGv9M

5. SustainableParish

   Lucas champions Green council achievements | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/gnNImh9 via @libcon

6. Matt Tancock

   Lucas champions Green council achievements http://t.co/A1Zrrl1 via @libcon – this kind of thing shouldn't be considered radical!!

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