Local Economy & Work
A strong, vibrant economy is vital to ensuring the wealth of all of us. The Green Party is committed to keeping the economy as close to local people as possible which keeps money as close to people as possible. Maidstone Green Party will:
- employ a Business Support Officer to promote new small, local initiatives and provide expertise to existing ones.
- promote creation of a local rewards card service local people and businesses
- introduce tax breaks for smaller local traders, sole traders, and partnerships;
- ensure at least a minimum living wage of £7.00 per hour for council employees and press other employees in Maidstone to do the same - we will name and shame employees who pay less than this
- not support planning permission for large chain-stores or shopping malls which will result in the closure of local shops
- employ a Community Economic Development Officer to support and develop initiatives such as credit unions, local currencies, Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS), and skill and tool shares
- oppose threats to public services such as the big-business led General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and Private Finance Initiatives
- seek to promote and expand local producers’ street markets, co-operatives, skills workshops, and directories of local businesses
- ensure MBC procures from local companies where ever possible and set targets for increasing the level of procurement from them
