Since winning an extra council seat at the Brunswick & Adelaide by-election in Hove on 4 July, Green councillors have been due to receive an extra seat on the council’s committees.

Despite multiple attempts to meet with the Labour administration and discuss where this allocation should be, Greens were told yesterday (19 September) that their new seat will be on the non-political Licensing Committee, rather than the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) which helps to oversee the wider performance of the Council.

Greens claim the move is a politically-motivated one, designed to avoid proper scrutiny from the official opposition to the Labour administration.

Currently, Greens have just one seat on the Place OSC – having a second would give them enough councillors to put forward Notices of Motion and propose amendments to items on the agenda, giving them a louder voice and more opportunities to drive the Committee’s agenda.

Earlier this year, Labour changed the council’s governance system from Committee to Cabinet, putting decision-making powers in the hands of 10 Labour Cabinet Members despite making no reference to this in their local election manifesto.

As part of this process, two ‘Overview and Scrutiny’ Committees – ‘Place’ and ‘People’ – were created to scrutinise Cabinet Member decisions.

Steve Davis, Leader of Green Group said: “This is a clear attempt by the Labour administration to stifle democracy and shut out opposition voices. Their switch to the less democratic Cabinet system earlier this year had no mandate from residents, and now they are trying to avoid proper scrutiny by blocking opposition members from the very committees that are supposed to keep the administration in check.”

“It’s more obvious than ever that Brighton & Hove Labour reflect the increasingly authoritarian nature of their national party and are not remotely interested in proper debate and scrutiny. Despite what [Labour council leader] Cllr Sankey may think, people in this city who didn’t vote Labour still deserve their voices to be heard, and to be properly represented within this council.”

Notes

One of Labour’s own councillors, Joy Robinson, is currently under investigation after appearing to brag about Greens having “no voice” in the council, in a now-deleted tweet: https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/09/18/here-are-the-reasons-for-the-latest-complaints-about-councillors/

Seats on committees are allocated based on the number of councillors of a political party. Prior to the by-election on the 4 July, Greens were allocated eight out of the total 63 seats – their win at the by-election increased that number to nine.

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17 September 2024 – Brighton & Hove Green councillors are proposing that Brighton & Hove City Council should award the prestigious Freedom of the City to Brighton Table Tennis Club (BTTC), in recognition of the incredible work they do in the city and their outstanding achievements at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Brighton Table Tennis Club has long been a beacon of excellence and inclusivity in our community, creating a space where people from all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can come together and discover a love for table tennis.

The recent triumphs of Bly Twomey and Will Bayley, who together brought home multiple medals in Paris, have been an immense source of pride for the city and speaks to the incredible work that Brighton and Hove Table Tennis club have done over the past 17 years.

The Freedom of the City is one of the highest honours that Brighton & Hove can bestow; it is reserved for individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the community.

Brighton Table Tennis Club has not only excelled in their sport but has also played a vital role in promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and social cohesion within the city.

Greens are calling for these proposals to be put before councillors at the next meeting of Full Council on 24 October.

Councillor Pete West, Shadow Cabinet Member for Sports and Recreation, said: “The achievements of the Brighton Table Tennis Club at the Paris 2024 Paralympics are nothing short of extraordinary. Their dedication to the sport and their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all players, regardless of background and ability, is truly inspiring. We believe that awarding them the Freedom of the City is a fitting tribute to their hard work and success.”

Table tennis player pic: www.freepik.com

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Picture from December 2023: St Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School (central Brighton). Greens call for a change of course, as children are left without school places for September start of the school year.

20 June 2024: The Labour city council administration repeatedly assured parents that all children from St Bartholomew’s (Brighton) and St Peter’s Community Primary School (Hove) would be accommodated in nearby schools in the new academic year.

Greens have hit back at Labour’s decision to force two local primary schools to close after the Office of the Schools Adjudicator released a determination:

[1] Greens suceeded in overturning the Labour-run council’s decision to close St Bartholomew’s Primary School at the end of this school year in July.

The city council decision to close the school in December 2024 has been made after nine pupils – several of whom are understood to have Special Educational Needs – were unable to secure a school place for the upcoming academic year.

Since Labour first proposed the closures last November, Green councillors have consistently stood with parents, carers, and teachers of children at the school, criticising the speed with which the decisions were being made and raising concerns that not enough time was being given for children to transition to new schools.

At a meeting of the Children, Families and Schools Committee in January, Greens also called on Labour to produce a report exploring the feasibility of moving Bright Start Nursery to St Bartholomew’s.

[2] A solution which could have saved both institutions and reflects what is now national Labour Party policy.

[3] All Labour Councillors on the Committee voted against even considering this as an option.

Green councillors are calling on the Labour administration to use this as an opportunity to reconsider the closure of St Bartholomew’s Primary School and to bring a report to the next Full Council meeting, exploring how the school could be saved by relocating Bright Start Nursery to unused classroom space. They reversed the administration’s previous decisions to cut under two’s provision and reduce the overall number of places at Bright Start.

Cllr Sue Shanks, former Opposition Spokesperson on the Children, Families, and Schools Committee said: “Green Councillors welcome this decision by the Schools Adjudicator, which comes closer to reflecting what school staff, governors, and parents have been asking for from the very start.

Labour’s decision was rushed through with little consideration for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, many of whom would have been left without a school to go to this September, had the Schools Adjudicator not stepped in.

“We urge Labour to use this as an opportunity to reconsider their disastrous decision to force this school to close. Now is the time for them to produce a report on our proposal to save both St Bartholomew’s and Bright Start Nursery, which they refused to even consider earlier this year. It’s not too late to correct course and do what is best for local families.”

Ends

NOTES 

[1] Office of the Schools Adjudicator Determination: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brighton-hove.gov.uk%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2024-06%2FSt%2520Bartholomew%2527s%2520CofE%2520Primary%2520School%2520Determination.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/06/17/school-slated-for-closure-gets-six-month-reprieve/

[2] Green Councillors’ Notice of Motion (p19): https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/b39210/Addendum%201%2022nd-Jan-2024%2016.00%20Children%20Families%20Schools%20Committee.pdf?T=9

[3] National Labour Party policy on childcare: https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labours-plan-for-childcare-and-early-education/

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Greens have today called on young people throughout Hove and Portslade to give their views on plans to introduce and improve spaces on the seafront in West Hove.

‘Kingsway to the sea’ is a project led by Brighton & Hove City Council which currently includes plans for a skatepark, pump track and a roller skate area, along with other sports facilities and green open spaces.

For Power of Youth Day, which will this year be held on Monday 6th June, Greens have urged young people to complete the consultation. A survey to collect the views of residents is currently open until Friday 10 June.

Brighton & Hove City Council was the first council to sign up to the ‘Power of Youth’ Charter, which aims to give young people more of a say in decisions that affect them. It followed a motion put forward by green councillor Hannah Clare.

Councillor Hannah Clare, who chairs the city’s Children, Young People and Skills Committee said:

“For Power of Youth Day, and indeed any day of the year, I believe it is really important to hear directly from young people on the issues that matter to them. I’m really proud of the work we are doing in Brighton & Hove to ensure young people’s voices are heard. But young people are often underrepresented in council consultations.

“While we of course want to hear from people of all ages, it’s really important to me that young people are able to have their say on this really exciting project. As we celebrate the importance of young people’s voices for Power of Youth Day, now is an excellent time for them to get involved and complete a quick survey to give their views.

“I think the plans for Kingsway to the sea showcase an excellent opportunity for residents in Hove and Portslade, and I look forward to seeing the results of the current consultation.”

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Quieter roads over lockdown have been shown to encourage more women to take up cycling. Official figures from the Department for Transport showed an increase of over 50% of women cycling. Local data in London could even pinpoint increases in cycling to areas where councils installed Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, segregating cyclists from fast moving traffic.

Not only are women more wary of cycling on busy roads, we know that women and children are amongst the most vulnerable road users. It is our duty as a council to provide our residents with the infrastructure to keep them safe as they travel.

In light of this information, I find it difficult to understand why the Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, Peter Kyle, would fail to support the temporary Old Shoreham Road cycling lane. In a recent interview on Politics Live, he chose to share a number of mistruths about the temporary walking and cycling measures introduced in Hove during lockdown. 

Starting with who actually did it. Despite his claims, it was under a Labour council that the A259 and Old Shoreham Road cycle lanes were planned. As Greens, we backed it (and I did with much delight as these are both routes I regularly cycle on). But I won’t accept the rewriting of history in this way. 

In the public consultation reviewing the temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road over 75% of respondents who used the lane during the day said they felt safe or very safe doing so. In fact, 36% of those who cycled in the temporary lane would have previously taken their car for the same journey. 

Many have reported to us how they took up cycling as a family. We saw new people cycling to school and work as a result, with an overall 61% increase in cycling between 2017 and 2020 with the introduction of the temporary lane. That’s an amazing achievement. Now the temporary cycle lane has been removed, some have taken to continuing in a Bike train. Others have launched a petition specifically for the reason that they want a safe route for their family. 

The lane wasn’t perfect, nor was it totally safe. I agree that we need a permanent solution, properly separated from the road (much like it is on sections of the road nearer Brighton). That’s why I’m delighted that this week, our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan was approved – which includes plans for it’s eventual return. 

The Old Shoreham Road temporary cycle lane was successful in enabling more people to safely switch from driving to cycling on this route, with no impact on emergency vehicles. The vision for what a permanent, well-planned lane will do is incredibly exciting.

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