i360 deal given go-ahead, project to begin in months 6th March 2014 by pic: Brighton i360 visualisation (F10 Studios) Councillors today (6th March) agreed to facilitate a government loan to the i360 tower project, meaning it could be open as soon as summer 2016. The council is supporting borrowing from the government’s Public Works Loans Board, which lends to profit-making infrastructure projects across the country. The funding […] Read more »
Message on the budget from the Green Group of Councillors Women’s Champions 6th March 2014 by Following the decision to agree a Council Tax increase of 1.99% at the reconvened Budget Council, Women’s Champions Cllrs Ruth Buckleyand Liz Wakefield said: “Brighton & Hove City Council agreed a 1.99% increase in council tax due to the threat of Eric Pickles interfering in local democracy. The Greens believe this budget is not the one that […] Read more »
Keeping Pickles out was the right thing to do, say Greens on budget decision 5th March 2014 by Green councillors have blasted the ‘short-sightedness’ of the other parties in blocking the referendum on a council tax rise to protect the future of local services, after a reconvened council meeting tonight passed a budget. (5th March). Cross-party negotiations since the budget first fell last week resulted in a successful all-party amendment incorporating proposals […] Read more »
Green councillors' budget proposals would permanently put meaningful funds into social care services 27th February 2014 by Thursday’s Brighton & Hove City Council budget meeting was adjourned at 10:30pm after the budget (without a referendum) failed to pass. Green councillors have issued the following statement: “Our proposals were the only ones put forward on the night that would permanently put meaningful funds into social care services, the voluntary sector, Able & […] Read more »
Labour and Tories attempt to block the people’s right to decide 14th February 2014 by Brighton & Hove’s Green city councillors have condemned an attempt by Labour and Tory councillors to implement additional cuts to the council’s budget without giving city residents an opportunity to vote on the topic. Green councillors plan to take a proposal for a 4.75% increase in council tax – the funds from which would […] Read more »
Confident that a democratic approach on the budget is the right choice for the city 31st January 2014 by Following a non-binding motion of no confidence passed by Labour and Conservatives, Green councillors last night faced down calls from the Labour Group to form a cross-party coalition with the Tories, describing this as unthinkable. Council Leader Jason Kitcat said: “As all Labour councillors know, Councillor Morgan’s motion is an utterly meaningless gesture. “If […] Read more »
Social care budget referendum proposal gains strength with support from union leaders 21st January 2014 by Union leaders in Brighton and Hove have backed Green Party calls to ‘Let the people decide’ on an alternative budget which would safeguard critical services for elderly and vulnerable people and cancel out austerity cuts passed down from the coalition government. Mark Turner the city’s GMB branch secretary said: “This new budget would protect frontline services […] Read more »
Council Leader calls on Labour to let the people, not the Tories, decide 17th January 2014 by Yesterday’s proposal by the Brighton & Hove Green minority administration for a citywide council tax referendum was rejected by the Brighton & Hove Labour Party within fifteen minutes of the announcement. The response was described as ‘deeply disappointing’ by the Leader of the Council, who yesterday called for other parties to ‘trust the people of […] Read more »
Greens propose referendum for council tax rise, to protect city's vulnerable 16th January 2014 by The UK’s only Green council administration – in Brighton and Hove – is proposing a referendum of local people on a council tax rise to protect services for the city’s most vulnerable. As a response to central Government cuts, the minority Green administration has been working to find ways of funding local services threatened […] Read more »
Low Emission Zone for Brighton city centre given green light 14th January 2014 by Pic: Brighton and Hove bus Radical proposals to tackle stubborn pollution hotspots in Brighton city centre were given cross-party backing at a committee meeting yesterday (14th January). While the majority of the city has seen significant improvements in air quality, stubborn pollution hotspots on North Street and near the Clock Tower haven’t followed suit. […] Read more »