St Thomas ward hustings 2024

We're joined by two of the candidates standing in St Thomas ward in this year's local elections - Elliot Lee (Greens) & Mark Zimmer (Reform).

Unfortunately Ian Holder (Lib Dem) was unable to make the hustings due to prior work commitments. At time of recording we had not heard from the other candidates:

Julian Lewis (Labour), David Chandler (Conservative) & John Burrows (TUSC).

1. Tell us about yourself, your history, why you're standing for the party you are?

2. What are the top three issues for St Thomas - and what would you do about them?

3. In a cost-of-living crisis, how is another year of maximum level council tax rises justified - what would you see done to help those struggling?

4. With recent flooding in Old Portsmouth, and the ongoing new sea defences works, what would you do to better protect residents and properties from future events given their likelihood and severity is set to increase?

5. What would you do to tackle anti social behaviour, generally and in places like Hot Walls & Camber Docks which are repeated hotspots?

6. What’s your view on the implementation of ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ where through traffic is heavily discouraged in order to reduce dependence on cars and increase active travel?

7. HMOs - satisfying a need for cheap and flexible housing or profiteering disruption of communities? How would you see their expansion managed better for new and existing residents?

8. If neither money or politics were an issue, what would you change about how Portsmouth City Council functions?

9. If you're successful, what's top of your list do get done on day one?

-Closing speeches