Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty has been re-elected unopposed as the Convenor of the Green group of councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council. This is his second year in the post and follows a vote by local Green Party members.
Deputy convenor roles were also voted on, with councillors Alex Phillips and Lizzie Deane elected unopposed in a job share arrangement for Deputy Convenor (external relations), Councillor Phillips having been elected to this post for the second year running. Councillors Amanda Knight and Louisa Greenbaum were elected unopposed in a job share for Deputy Convenor (internal relations).
The Green group of councillors currently hold 11 out of 54 seats on Brighton and Hove Council, the third-largest party in the city. Councillor Mac Cafferty was elected convenor of the Green group in May 2015.
Councillors Phillips and Deane have been Green Councillors since 2009 and 2010 respectively, while Councillors Knight and Greenbaum were both elected as Green councillors for the first time in Goldsmid and St Peter’s & North Laine wards in 2015.
Councillor Mac Cafferty said:
“I am thrilled to have been re-elected as Convenor with a united group of Green Councillors. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to local party members for placing their continued support in me. As convenor our first priority is to continue the hard work for our residents.
“As the only political group consistently opposed to austerity and cuts to public services, our group has a key role to play in holding the Labour council administration to account.”
Speaking on behalf of the deputy external convenors, Councillor Alex Phillips said:
“The Greens remain a powerful voice in Brighton & Hove, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work together with Councillor Deane to strengthen that voice and ensure we have more time and resources to get out there and engage with the city’s residents. People are desperate for an end to the doom and gloom of austerity politics – and Greens can provide the alternative”.
Speaking on behalf of the deputy external convenors, Councillor Amanda Knight said:
“My first year as a local Councillor has taken some getting used to but it has been fantastic to be a part of such a supportive and welcoming team, and to have the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of residents. As internal deputy convenors, Louisa and I will support the group to go from strength to strength, and be the most effective group we can be”.