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An alternative to the Fresh Start Agreement

An alternative to the Fresh Start Agreement image

an alternative to the Fresh Start/Stormont House Agreement.


“There are several alternatives which would generate new jobs, stimulate the economy, and improve people’s lives however I’ve listed just three below:


1) The 2015 Wrap NI Report outlines a strategic plan over 15 years and evidences a potential 13,000 new jobs created at various skill levels across Northern Ireland and within a number of sectors, including food and drink, bio-refining and the bio economy, by moving to a circular economy.In essence, the circular economy is about moving from a system of waste to one of endless resourcefulness. Charity shops for example make use of clothes or items we no longer want or consider waste. If we were to simply throw away those items the charity shop would not exist nor would the jobs associated with it. As a society we recognise the benefits of re-using or reselling our ‘waste’. If there is money to be made and jobs created on the back of items we no longer have use for, clothes, electrical goods and shoes then the same can be said of our aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, glass and food to name but a few.
The Green Alliance report highlights the economic advantages associated with landfill diversion. It identified that between 5-10 jobs are created/supported for every thousand tonnes of material recycled, compared with 0.1 jobs for the same amount of waste sent to landfill.
Applying the above to Belfast’s waste streams would indicate that up to 520 jobs are directly or indirectly supported through the Council’s recycling initiatives as around 52,000 tonnes is presently recycled, and a further 33,000 tonnes is recovered. This has resulted in 58% of the city’s waste being diverted from landfill and instead recycled.
There are multiple examples available online that illustrate a large scale circular economy in practice. A good example of this is the Walt Disney Resort who send food waste — including grease, cooking oils and table scraps — from select restaurants in its complex to a nearby 5.4 MW anaerobic digestion facility owned and operated by Harvest Power. The organic waste is converted into renewable biogas (a combination of carbon dioxide and methane) to generate electricity, with the remaining solid material processed into fertilizer. The energy generated helps to power Central Florida, including Walt Disney Resort’s hotels and theme parks.
This practice not only eradicates the cost associated with disposing of the materials once considered ‘waste’ but delivers job creation at Harvest Power, drives down energy use and energy bills, reduces carbon emissions and assists in tackling climate change.


2) Fuel Poverty is a chronic injustice in a civilized society and a source of misery for many of our citizens; we know that out of 750,000 housing stock approximately 294,000 are at risk of fuel poverty. Investing in energy retrofit upgrade in Northern Ireland, particularly in fuel-poor households would not only make these houses energy efficient- which after all, is the job of government – making citizens’ lives better- but will also create hundreds of sustainable jobs from low-skilled roles to management opportunities. The Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) report entitled:
Policy options for Investment in Infrastructure in Northern Ireland” Jan 2013 suggests that with an energy retrofit: “The impact on unemployment could be significant, it is estimated that every £10m invested could create up to 330 jobs in Northern Ireland” NERI examines how a mass retrofitting scheme could be established in Northern Ireland and when discussing investment in retrofitting states: “the most common example of this is additional insulation.
In addition to economic benefits, a major retrofit programme is likely to bring significant social benefits, particularly in combating Fuel Poverty and the health problems associated with cold, damp housing. How much would we have to spend to both improve peoples’ lives through ensuring warm homes, and generating new jobs? The cost per home for cavity wall insulation is approximately £1300. We estimate the retrofitting scheme would cost in the region of £300m, which creates 990 jobs for a period of 10 years. £300 million is the same figure we have just agreed to spend cutting Corporation Tax, which, as I’ve discussed above, guarantees no more than increased profits for corporations. Whilst lowering corporation tax costs £300 million and guarantees no jobs, this Fuel Poverty strategy costs the same, improves everyone’s standard of living, and stimulates economic growth by job-creation.

3) “At March 2014 the social housing waiting list amounted to 39,967 households of whom 21,586 were considered to be in housing stress, including 9,649 households deemed to be statutorily homeless”

It will take 5 years to build a new home for each of those deemed statutorily homeless based on the most recent version of the Net Stock Model which points to the need for 1,200 new homes to be built each year. However, because there were several years, since 2001, where this target was not achieved, an additional 800 are provided each year to make up the shortfall of previous years. And 19 years to meet the present housing demand.
Two thousand homes per year is too few, we believe that building more new homes will make a significant social and economic contribution to Northern Ireland. As well as delivering much needed new homes, increasing our housing supply would provide significant additional benefits for everyone; jobs creation, investment in infrastructure and facilities for local communities. TUC (Trade Union Congress) argue that £1 spent on housing generates £1.40 of wider economic benefit. In a recent article published regarding the UK housing crisis Frances O’Grady their general secretary said, “Think of the opportunities presented by a massive house-building programme: thousands of decent jobs and quality apprenticeships; a much needed boost for our ailing construction industry and the chance to bolster our supply chains as well.”

Conclusion
Lowering Corporation Tax is not the magic wand which many believe it to be. How many will invest the tax cut in nice holidays and better cars as opposed to the creation of new jobs? There are no sanctions, no prohibitions and most astonishingly no guarantees.
Handing taxpayers hard earned money to corporations in the vain hope that they will invest it back into our country and its people cannot be the best our leaders have to offer, can it?
As we so often see, our politicians avoid rolling up their sleeves to tackle the chronic injustices so many of our citizens are faced with: low pay, lack of employment opportunities, depleted social housing market and poor energy efficiency to name but a few. All referenced and addressed within this article with rational, viable and sensible alternatives.


In the words of Kenny Rogers “There’ll be time enough for counting, When the dealin’s done”

Progressive Unionist Party Councillor, Julie Anne Corr-Johnston