Money doesn’t grow on trees but Kirklees could net an income from them, the Green Party says.
Wood Kirklees Council’s Forestry Team cuts down each year could be sold, netting an income.
Plus the council should tap into revenue streams from solar farms.
The ambitions are two the Green Party is proposing as part of their five-point election manifesto.
Clr Andrew Cooper, Green Party leader, said: “The council is heading into very difficult times with huge cuts in funding. Greens need to use our influence in a positive way to ensure community facilities and services are protected as much as possible.”
Clr Cooper added: “Kirklees land could earn more revenue from agriculture or solar farms in suitably located areas.
“We call for the establishment of partnerships with local business to make best use of these assets to share both the costs and the profits of new proposals for local assets.
“Kirklees is operating out of less buildings but ownership of the many remaining unused buildings is a drain on council funds.
“We would support an accelerated review of Kirklees buildings to determine the best options for them such as community asset transfer, commercial sale or rental income.”
Kirklees could also generate income from its typical services and Clr Cooper added: “The council could raise revenue by establishing services that people might actually want.
“For example Kirklees forestry services cut down many damaged and dangerous trees each year but do not use this opportunity to develop a lucrative quality wood fuel business.”
The five Green Party proposals are: seek all-party agreement on the Local Development Framework; give communities a greater say over how local funds are spent; make Kirklees more entrepreneurial; secure more cash from Kirklees land and buildings; and protect key services.
Planning issues top the agenda, too, and they want a cross-party agreement on the Local Plan that will set out Kirklees’ priorities.
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