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Communities
Sustainable Communities
By Beth Breeze
August 2006 Report
The workshops looking at Labour’s plans for creating sustainable communities were amongst the best attended, reflecting the breadth of work of this commission which includes community cohesion, social housing, transport, tackling climate change and long-term energy needs. Debate in the workshops focused on the consultation document that is the main output of this first year of the NPF’s work.
There was consensus that the document accurately captured the input from NPF and local party members in some areas, including Labour’s efforts to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. The Secretary of State, David Miliband, was present for the discussions and stated unequivocally that environmental implications are a key part of all Labour’s policy discussions. Similarly, the section of the consultation document covering energy policy was felt to adequately reflect the party’s concerns, though it was agreed to seek further input on how to incentivise domestic energy efficiency.
Housing and transport both generated lively debates that concluded with a number of constructive conclusions that strengthened this element of the NPF’s work. It was agreed to make stronger reference to direct investment and the need for a ‘level playing field’ in social housing, whilst maintaining secure public finances. In transport, NPF members successfully argued that greater attention should be drawn to the contribution of better local bus services, light rail, car-pooling and cycling schemes to ensure sustainable, integrated transport.
Our section of the consultation document has been immensely strengthened by the input of NPF discussions, all informed by input from local party members. I am looking forward to getting further feedback on our work so that we can prepare the strongest possible set of policies in this essential area that affects the daily lives of every member of our society.