One solution is to go outside the conventions of political office to mobilise the resources of the community. A priority for Green Party councillors is therefore to act as people who can co-ordinate initiatives coming from below, tapping and encouraging the ideas and potential that are latent everywhere. GC201 Access to the Councils' records and information should be made more open. Also, the creation of special community forums to oversee the work work of particular departments and committees may increase involvement. The council can facilitate and make itself accountable to referenda and citizen's initiatives.
Individual Councillors can make themselves available for recall when petitioned to do so.
GC203 Regular public meetings for neighbourhood and community councils and open agenda sections for all meetings give people a chance to make their voices heard. Retraining of people within local authority professions with the help of trade unions and use of alternative technology will help increase environmental sensitivity, resource efficiency, and the self-reliance of the community. It is also important to study how the council's resources are actually allocated to different social groups. We support the setting up of specific inter-council projects which are accessible and accountable. This enables projects beyond the capacity of a single authority to achieve, can be carried out at a local level rather than through national government.