An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held at South Shields Town Hall on Thursday saw councillors debate and vote on the controversial Local Plan, which provides the strategic framework for development across the borough. Despite Labour holding the majority, the plan was resubmitted without amendments after its initial rejection in September 2024 – a move widely criticized as undemocratic.

Why Was the Plan Rejected Again?

Local councillors and residents have raised serious concerns about the plan’s failure to reflect community interests. Key issues include:

• Green Belt Development: Loss of protected land, especially in Felgate.
• Infrastructure Shortfalls: Insufficient planning for roads, schools, and healthcare to support new housing developments.
• Environmental Neglect: Weak sustainability policies and inadequate climate resilience measures.
• Housing Policy Failures: Unrealistic growth targets that do not align with South Tyneside’s declining population.
• Lack of HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Regulations: No clear framework to manage overdevelopment of rental properties.
• Failure to Meet Sport England Standards: Gaps in provision for community sports and recreational spaces.

Green Group Calls for a Fresh Start

Shirley Ford, Deputy Leader of the South Tyneside Green Group, criticized the Labour administration for ignoring the concerns raised in September’s rejection.

“In September, elected councillors spoke for their communities and rejected this flawed Local Plan. Instead of going back to the drawing board, we were told we must accept this unchanged version. That is not how democracy works.”

Councillor Chris Davies (Biddick and All Saints) reinforced the Green Group’s commitment to delivering a Local Plan that works for residents, not against them.

“This plan was deeply flawed from the outset. We need a plan that safeguards our green spaces, ensures strong infrastructure investment, and meets genuine affordable housing needs—not one that prioritizes unchecked development at the expense of local communities.”

What Happens Next?

With the Local Plan now defeated for a second time, South Tyneside Council must return to the drawing board. However, new national legislation on Local Plans, a new plan must be submitted by December 2026.

The South Tyneside Green Party sees this as an opportunity to push for a more ambitious and sustainable vision for the borough.

“Rejecting this plan is not an invitation to chaos, as Labour claims. A bad plan guarantees injustice—we now have the chance to build a better one. We urge the council to start listening and work with communities to shape a fair, just, and sustainable future for South Tyneside.” – Shirley Ford

The Green Group has pledged to continue advocating for residents, ensuring that any new Local Plan puts people and the environment first.

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This page is our fact checker, set up with an aim to get the right information out there and address concerns that matter the most to residents.

“The Greens have to toe the national party line”

The Green Party of England and Wales has never instructed councillors in South Tyneside how to act or vote or told them what to speak up or stay quiet about. South Tyneside Green Party has never instructed councillors in South Tyneside how to act or vote or told them what to speak up or stay quiet about. The Leader/Deputy Leader of the Green Group have never instructed councillors in South Tyneside how to act or vote or told them what to speak up or stay quiet about. The Greens are free to speak their minds and each councillor can vote according to their individual opinions.

“The Greens are ‘in bed with Labour”

Despite what some people might want you to believe, the Greens can be seen in every Borough Council meeting, challenging Labour and holding them to account. The Greens are free to speak their minds and each councillor can vote according to their individual opinions. In practice, this means that sometimes not all members of the Green Group will vote the same way. There are occasions where Green councillors agree with Labour and vote the same way as them. There are also (frequently!) occasions where they don’t.

The post Fact Checker appeared first on South Tyneside Green Party.

Introduction
Over the past year, the South Tyneside Green Group, comprising dedicated Green Party councillors, has been tirelessly working to promote sustainability, social justice, and community engagement within our borough. We are proud to present this impact report to our local party’s Annual General Meeting, highlighting the significant strides we’ve made in supporting our constituents and advocating for a greener, fairer South Tyneside. This year has been monumental for political shifts within South Tyneside Council.

In May 2024, the Green Party locally achieved a record vote share in the South Shields constituency area, capturing 33% of all votes cast, ahead of Labour (23%) and Independent (25%). Overall, this has brought the majority in the council chamber to just 2. Green Group Councillors have also been given two seats on the new combined authority scrutiny committees, meaning Greens are now in the room on decisions made across the North East region.

Key Achievements

Championing Anti-Racism Initiatives
The Green Group successfully advocated for South Tyneside Council to sign up to Unison’s Anti-Racism Charter in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card, reinforcing our borough’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.

Supporting Youth and Accessibility
We showed our support for the launch of Autism Able’s Youth Hub in South Shields, which provides vital resources and opportunities for young people with autism.

Advocating for Peace
Demonstrating our commitment to global peace, the Green Group actively participated in ceasefire demonstrations and proposed a Ceasefire Motion to the Borough Council, emphasising the importance of diplomatic solutions.

Preserving Cultural Heritage
We supported a bid to restore the Coat of Arms stonework at South Shields’ Customs House, now a cherished arts centre and performance venue, preserving an important piece of our local heritage.

Protecting the Green Belt
Our group stood alongside community campaigns to protect the Green Belt in Fellgate, Jarrow, advocating for sustainable development and the preservation of natural spaces.

Supporting Veterans
The Green Group showed unwavering support for NAAFI Break, a charitable organisation aiding former members of the armed forces, particularly during Armed Forces Day.

Celebrating Diversity
For the past three years, our councillors have been active members of the steering group for the Ocean Road Mela event. This celebration of South Tyneside’s rich diversity included delivering opening speeches and engaging with the community to promote inclusion.

Promoting Cultural Narratives
We supported the Routes & Roots event at South Shields Museum, celebrating British Bangladeshi stories and enriching our community’s cultural tapestry.

Standing with Workers
The Green Group stood in solidarity with striking workers from the council’s waste services bin collection crews, advocating for fair working conditions and rights.

Encouraging Sustainable Living
We organised the second annual Toy Collective/Toy Swap at a local community centre. This initiative promotes recycling, reduces landfill waste, and supports families during the cost-of-living crisis by providing access to toys and children’s books.

Enhancing Community Engagement
The Green councillors have led efforts to reform the Friends of West Park Group, securing its future and fostering greater community involvement with local green spaces.

Campaigning for Fair Adult Care Fees
We launched a public campaign addressing adult care fee arrangements under Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This initiative highlights the need for fairness and transparency, providing a platform for affected families.

Advocating for Sustainable Transport
The Green Group scrutinised the council’s provisions for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in South Tyneside. We challenged the pricing of the new contract and robustly raised concerns surrounding income inequality issues. Regionally, we are focusing our efforts by pushing for better public transport, and moving towards a region where car dependency is designed out of all our transport plans.

Influencing Local Development Plans
We coordinated our expertise to form a unified response to the draft Local Plan during the last full borough meeting. This collaboration was pivotal in contributing to the plan’s rejection, boosting our social media exposure, and increasing public awareness of the Green Party’s stance on local development. This victory preserved a community centre and several businesses from being replaced with unaffordable housing, ensuring development aligns with the needs of our residents in Whitburn and Marsden.

Supporting Innovative Community Initiatives
Our group assisted with innovative CAF schemes, providing research support and day-to-day assistance. These initiatives introduced fresh solutions, strengthening our commitment to community-led development and local problem-solving.

Addressing Crime and Antisocial Behaviour
We have been instrumental in addressing residents’ concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour. By voicing these issues in the Place Select Scrutiny Committee, we advocated for better communication between the police and councillors.

Supporting Inclusive Community Groups
Our councillors engaged with Sangini, a group that empowers women from minority backgrounds through art, heritage, and social activities.

Improving Health Literacy
Recognising the importance of accessible information, we attended training on health literacy to better serve residents. By advocating for simpler, more understandable language in council communications, we aim to ensure all community members can engage with important information.

Enhancing Local Amenities
We have been proactive in improving local parks and amenities. Initiatives include:

• Developing the borough’s first-of-its-kind Vendor Pad in West Park, providing opportunities for small businesses and enhancing community engagement.
• Installing new swings and exploring a bench replacement programme to rejuvenate park facilities.
• Progressing towards installing a toilet in a park, enhancing its accessibility and convenience for visitors.

Improving Allotment Services
Following concerns from residents, we advocated for increased staffing and better management of allotment services. Our efforts led to the hiring of additional allotment officers and the implementation of improved processes, benefiting allotment tenants and associations.

Final Word
The South Tyneside Green Group remains steadfast in our commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice, and community empowerment. We have proved that we are a force to be reckoned with, whilst also being the sensible party to offer meaningful solutions. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and are energised to continue advocating for positive change in our borough. Together with our constituents, we will strive towards a greener, fairer, and more inclusive South Tyneside and North East.

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South Tyneside Green Party fully supports the statement put out by our Green Group leader, Councillor David Francis yesterday, in reaction to the senseless attack in Southport on Monday and the unrest and rioting that has happened subsequently.

Our Green Party councillors have reached out across the community to offer support and solidarity.

We are particularly saddened to see the horrific violence unfolding on the streets of Sunderland this evening – with damage and destruction of buildings, vehicles and businesses and attacks on the local mosque.

There is no place for this behaviour in a civilised society – but this has reached a head after years of Governments moving further and further to the right, with the wholesale demonisation of minority groups and severe lack of investment in our communities.

We condemn the actions of those who wish to do our communities harm and send our heartfelt solidarity and support to anyone who feels unsafe because of these actions.

If you have concerns about the escalation of this activity in our community, please reach out to your Green councillors.
If you feel threatened or unsafe, please contact the Police on 101. If there is immediate danger, please call 999.

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