Three councillors have joined the Green group on Lancaster City Council - increasing the number of Greens on the council to a new record of 14.
Alistair Sinclair, Faye Penny and Kevin Frea were Eco-Socialist Independents but have now decided to join the Greens.
The change does not affect who controls the council but does mean the Greens now only have two councillors less than Labour, the biggest political group on LCC.
The three councillors had worked closely with the Greens since a Co-Operative Alliance was formed after the local elections in 2019.
Councillor Frea, who will stand down at next May's elections, is the deputy leader of the council, represents the rural Halton-with-Aughton ward and has been the cabinet member for climate action for the last three years.
He said: “The climate emergency is the main reason that I decided to get involved with local politics. The Green Party has been leading on this issue both nationally and on the council for over 20 years, and I have always admired how hard-working and well-informed Green councillors are. We have been working closely together with the Greens and I decided the best course of action for my remaining time as a councillor was to join them, considering our shared values and vision.”
Councillors Penny and Sinclair both represent John O’Gaunt ward in Lancaster.
Councillor Penny said: “I have worked with Green councillors since I was first elected, and have recently supported them in several election efforts. It has become increasingly clear that few if any issues separate us, so joining the party feels like a formality at this point. I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard for the residents I represent, now with the formal support of the Green Party.” Councillor Sinclair said: “The past couple of weeks have demonstrated the extremely urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. Local councils certainly can’t solve all the problems we face, but I’m proud of the efforts that our Eco-Socialist group has made alongside the Greens over the last 20 months. The next few years are absolutely crucial in doing what we can to tackle global heating, and mitigate the effects of the climate breakdown we are now experiencing. We can’t do it alone, and we need everyone working together to push for the changes we need to see.” The Eco-Socialist Independent Group was formed in November 2020 when five councillors – including Councillors Frea, Penny and Sinclair – left the Labour Party. Councillor Caroline Jackson, the Green leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kevin, Faye and Alistair to the Green group. We are all focused on the priorities of achieving a just transition to a zero-carbon economy, supporting our independent businesses and serving our residents.”
Labour remains the largest group on the city council, with 16 members. The Greens have 14, Conservatives 9, Morecambe Bay Independents 6, Independent Group 5, Bay Independent Group 4, Non-Aligned Independent 1 and Liberal Democrats 4, meaning there is no overall control of the council. Councillors Frea, Penny and Sinclair will take their seats as Greens for the first time at Lancaster City Council’s meeting of full council on Wednesday July 27 at 6pm at Morecambe Town Hall. This meeting is open to the public.
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