From fixing potholes to addressing the European Parliament- how one Green councilor has made a difference locally and globally.

The question of how a small party that has limited resources and is often overlooked by the media is one most Green candidates are asked at some point.

It is one Andrew Cooper, a Green member of Yorkshire and Humber council and a Field Organizer for the party, faced when he first stood in the Kirklees ward in 1999.

Speaking to North Staffs Green Party on Sunday evening he explained how he has answered that question over the twenty years he has held the seat. During which time he has made a positive impact locally and represented the Green Party on both a national and international stage.

The meeting was part of a program encouraging members to ‘think local; act global’ and took place via Zoom.

Andrew began by giving some background to his political career, he first stood as a candidate for the Green Party in Stoke-on-Trent back in 1989 when he was a student at the then North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Although he didn’t win, he achieved a respectable share of the vote.

Being a Green councilor, he admitted, could sometimes be ‘really difficult’, and getting things done can be a challenge when faced with entrenched hostility from other parties.

However, it was, he said, possible to challenge the perception that Greens can’ win and if they do, they can’t make a difference. A point proved by the achievements of Andrew and the other two Greens holding the ward.

These include protecting land from development that did not serve the needs of the local community, in one instance by organizing a commando style operation to plant fruit trees. They have also backed projects to upgrade play areas and support vulnerable people.

Andrew credits Target to Win for helping him and his colleagues gain and hold the ward, but cites the secret of their effectiveness in office as ‘doing the basics’ and doing them well. That means working practically locally to fix problems like litter or potholes, then working on larger and more ‘interesting’ projects.

This, he said, creates a political climate where local people feel empowered as partners in bringing about positive changes in their community. It also, he added, shows town hall officials that they are dealing with councilors who are willing to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in, which often encourages them to be more cooperative.

Among the more interesting projects Andrew and his colleagues have taken on are working with the police to stop the sale of counterfeit cigarettes and speaking to the European Parliament about what local government needs to do to address climate change. Andrew also attended the COP2018 climate talks at the United Nations as a Green delegate.

This was a positive and encouraging talk setting out how Green councilors can win and use office to empower communities to bring about positive change. A timely message given the challenges of these unprecedented times.