In the final of a series of columns from York’s four main political parties, Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Green Party group leader, shares the group’s plans ahead of the local elections on May 2

Other parties will highlight the failings of their main opposition and promise that they alone can deliver simplistic solutions, yet many residents feel let down by the two biggest national parties and politicians in general and may be inclined not to vote at all.

We recognise this, but appeal to York residents to give Greens the opportunity to demonstrate that politics can be different, with residents being more directly involved in shaping their communities and tackling the big issues, forcing the political parties to put you and the city we live in above party self-interest.

While political control of City of York Council tends to tip back and forth, Greens bring a longer term perspective, focussing on the vision for an inclusive thriving city.

York has had two Green Party councillors since 2003.

At the last local elections in 2015, Greens secured four councillors across three wards bringing Green Party representation to thousands of residents.

Yet we have influence far beyond the simple proportion represented by Greens.

Green councillors proposed the recent climate emergency motion in which councillors from all four parties pledged to make York carbon neutral by 2030.

Under previous administrations, Greens have secured funding for solar panels on council properties, home insulation, better bus services and the complete upgrade to failed lighting on Millennium Bridge.

We have also fought successful local campaigns to protect green public open spaces from development.

Our pressure on the current administration helped to secure low emission and later running park and ride services and the introduction of a clean air zone for the city centre from next year.

The current council has also passed Green Party motions which we have followed up with action through committees to tackle food poverty, improve mental health services and increase emergency homeless accommodation.

Collaboration between parties is likely to be needed to run the council after May, and a strong Green group will help steer the direction of the council, regardless of which party has the largest number of seats.

Greens will always work with the other parties for the good of the city and the residents we represent.

Our manifesto sets out our policies at www.yorkgreenparty.org.uk (along with our candidate biographies).

Our vision is for a council that works with residents to tackle the challenges of creating a greener, cleaner, more caring city which has affordable housing, well paid worthwhile secure jobs, low crime, quality education, safe attractive green spaces close to where people live, good public transport, safe and well maintained walking and cycling routes and a strategy to prepare for and mitigate climate change.

Greens have actively engaged with initiatives to respond to flooding, involve residents in volunteer activity in their community and deliver on 30 years’ experience of policies to tackle climate change.

We want to work with you to find positive ways to make your community a better place to live, but we can do that so much more effectively with Green ward councillors representing you.

Green votes in York have already pushed the environment high up the political agenda.

If you want to ensure that the other parties deliver on their pledges, you need to elect Green councillors on May 2 and be part of a Green revolution in local politics.