Winter 2012-13 | Edition 43 Published by Brighton and Hove Green Party

Special 4-page pull-out:How Coalition cuts are hitting the city

Community news: meet your councillors from Goldsmid and Withdean

UNESCO Biosphere bid: why it’s a good thing for Brighton & Hove

Caroline Lucas:Badgers get a reprieve; new local Dragon’s Den

GREENLEAF

07 05

The local economy of Brighton & Hove has proven remarkably resistant to the effects of the global recession – although the Coalition Government’s determination to cut local budgets means that many people won’t be feeling the benefits of this resilience.

While the rest of the UK – and indeed much of Europe – is still struggling to emerge out of

recession, the city has performed better-than-average in a number of key areas, including unemployment, business start-ups and shop closures.

According to the Office of National Statistics, unemployment in Brighton & Hove is 3.4% – less than half the national average of 7.9%. As a result, nearly 400 people came off Jobseekers Allowance in

the year to September 2012 – twice the national average.

A city council report also suggests that shop closures are unusually low compared to other areas of the country. Around 6% of retail premises in Brighton and Hove were closed in January 2012, while only 3.9% were reported closed in Hove (Aug 2011). This compares to a

national average of 14.3%.Business start-ups in the city

are also said to be high, with the number of new business accounts opened running at more than twice the national average. According to Wired Sussex, the city’s digital and media sectors between them have grown 16% in the last year.

Public service cuts by the Coalition

government have put this steady progress at risk (see pull-out).

Green council leader Jason Kitcat said: “We’ve bucked the trend because of our great location, creative culture, and forward-looking approach. People love living and working in our city, which keeps attracting new businesses. But all this could be put at risk.”

A community fights backThe Exeter Street Hall has been at the heart of Prestonville in Brighton for more than 130 years. So when St Luke’s church announced it would be put up for sale, local people formed a group to keep it under community ownership. The Hall Get Involved Group plans to raise £200,000 by selling shares in the project. Green MP Caroline Lucas bought the first share, and many more have followed suit. Shares are available until January – so don’t miss this opportunity to make a real difference. More details at www.exeterstreethall.org

www.brightonhovegreens.org

08

City bucks the trend

Green MP Caroline Lucas has got behind a campaign to keep Exeter Street Hall as a community asset.Photo: Simon Dack

Buses use on increase; house built of waste;live animal exports

03

Brighton & Hove is performing better than the rest of the country in key areas, though government cuts are putting success at risk

Centre pages

New layout for accident blackspot?

City news 02 | Winter 2012-13

2012: Hard times, but city still stands tallChristmas and New Year is a time for reflection on the past year, writes Green council leader Jason Kitcat.

In 2012 we saw the launch of many new projects to improve

different parts of the city, such as the restoration of The Level. A revamped Brighton Centre opened and hosted conferences ranging from the Taekwon-do World Cup

to the Trades Union Congress conference. Work began on a new library at Woodingdean and a range of sustainable transport improvements have been made to the Old Shoreham Road among others. We also saw the continuation of successful events such as People’s Day, the Brighton Marathon, the Brighton Digital Festival.

The end of the year is also a time to think of those who are less fortunate – the many who will find it difficult to make ends meet this season. The recession has hit many families hard; unemployment is still relatively high and cuts to the welfare system are leaving many out of pocket.

But Brighton & Hove has come off better than some. We’ve seen

the launch of a local Living Wage campaign to cut poverty pay, a new citywide apprenticeships scheme, and we’re setting up a local Community Banking Partnership to help people in financial difficulty avoid becoming victims of loan sharks and expensive credit agreements.

Economically, the city is performing better than average. There are some exciting projects on the horizon that will help our local economy and the people it employs. For example, we’re in the running to part-host the Rugby World Cup in a few years’ time, for funding for ultra fast broadband, and we’re hoping to become a UN Biosphere (see p5).

Big challenges remain ahead, but I’m confident that together we’ll be able to overcome them.

Seven Dials is one of the most dangerous junctions in the city, whatever way you are travelling. It is also one of the city’s accident hotspots, with 41 collisions resulting in 44 injuries – 18 of them involving cyclists – in the last five years alone. Following discussions with the local community, there is widespread agreement that something must be done.

Following an extensive public consultation with local residents and businesses, council officers are working on the final designs of a scheme that could transform the area. This would make it safer, more pleasant and a place that works better for everybody: residents, drivers, cyclists and local businesses.

Proposals include getting rid of railings, introducing planters and benches, replacing pelican crossings with zebra crossings, increasing the width of pavements, and reducing the speed of traffic. Parking will not be affected by any of the plans.

Brighton & Hove has won £840,000 of central government money to set up a communal recycling scheme across the city centre.

The announcement follows a successful trial in the Brunswick and Adelaide ward, which resulted in a 70% increase in recycling, with high approval ratings for ease of use and street cleanliness. Now, following consultation with residents, the scheme will be rolled out across most of the city – which will mean an end to unsightly black boxes on the pavements.

Cllr Pete West, Chair of the Environment & Sustainability Committee, said: “This is fantastic news and great credit is due to our officers for putting together an attractive bid. The fund was heavily oversubscribed, so the Government must have been impressed with the quality of our plan, the tremendous success of the trial in Brunswick and Adelaide, and the potential for the rest of the city centre.”

£840k grant for recycling

Greens onlineKeep in touch with Greens online at the following sites:Brighton and Hove Green Partywww.brightonhovegreens.orgBrighton & Hove Greens Facebook page & Twitterhttp://www.facebook.com/brightonhovegreens@bhgreens @newsgreenbhBrighton & Hove Greens blogbhgp.org.uk/National Green Party website and Twitter feedwww.greenparty.org.uk@thegreenparty

Website for Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilionwww.carolinelucas.com Caroline Lucas on Twitter@carolinelucasTo contact Caroline LucasFor constituency matters: brightonoffice@parliament.uk Tel: 01273 201130.For parliamentary matters: caroline.lucas.mp@parliament.uk Tel: 0207 219 7025

Website for Keith Taylor, MEP for South East Englandwww.keithtaylormep.org.uk Keith Taylor on Twitter@GreenKeithMEPTo contact Keith Taylorkeithtaylor@greenmeps.org.uk Tel: 0207 250 8415

Green council leader Jason Kitcat talks to a flower trader in Norfolk Square in Brighton.

Winter 2012-13 | 03

For the latest news on the Brighton & Hove Green budget, visit brightonhovegreens.org

City news

GreenLeaf is published by the Brighton and Hove Green Party. Main office: The Eco-Centre, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton BN1 3PB. Tel/fax: 01273 766670. Editor: Nic Compton editor@brightonhovegreens.org. Contributors: Nicola Hodgson, Joe Gill, and Green councillors. To find out how you can help the Green Party, or to make a donation, please call the number above or email info@ brightonhovegreens.org - or see our ad on p4.

To advertise in GreenLeaf, please call the number above or email: advertising@brightonhovegreens.org.

News in briefRugby bid goes ahead Brighton & Hove’s bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup received a boost when the Amex stadium was officially approved as a possible venue by the Rugby World Cup board. The city is one of 17 on a long list being considered by the event’s governing body.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the city, economically and culturally, as well as in terms of our world profile,” said Green council leader Jason Kitcat. ““We think rugby fans will enjoy the city’s vast array of restaurants, cultural activities and our strong tradition of celebrating diversity.”

Brighton University to cut emissions by 50%Brighton University has announced bold plans to cut its carbon emissions by 50% in the next five years. The target is the most ambitious of any higher education institution in the UK.

Measures being taken as part of the University’s Carbon Management Plan include increasing insulation, fitting solar panels and sub-metering utilities to increase awareness of usage. Staff and students will also be educated to decrease their individual carbon consumption.

Brighton University was ranked third out of 145 higher education institutions in the People & Planet’s annual Green League. It was recently awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for its efforts in cutting carbon emissions.

Schools create MP’s card Three primary schools in Brighton were invited to submit artwork for a seasonal card sent out by Green MP Caroline Lucas. Pupils from Carden Primary School, St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School and Westdene Primary School all got busy with pens and paint brushes to create the pieces.

The winning design featured on Caroline’s Christmas card as well as appearing on her website and Facebook page (see p2). Brighton sushi restaurant Moshimo sponsored the costs of printing and postage, while local printers RePrint printed the cards on recycled paper.

Buses lead the way In contrast with many other cities, where bus use is stagnant or falling, the successful partnership between Brighton & Hove council and local bus operators continues to bring success to the city, with bus use increasing 5% this year – including an 8% increase in September alone.

The new smartcard (Key card) is proving popular, with around 35,000 cards already in use. The new bus lanes on the Lewes Road, which are supported by The Albion and both universities, are expected to increase bus use even further when they are completed in 2013.

More people are also choosing to travel into the city by bus, with improved services along the coast as well as to the wider Sussex area. Brighton & Hove Buses now have a number of hybrid buses, which will reduce the environmental impact of public transport, particularly in the city centre.

The council is committed to maintaining the popular free bus travel scheme for older people, despite Government cuts, meaning the cost rose from £6.8 in 2010 to nearly £9.3m in 2011 – an increase of over 35% .

Green Euro MP fights animal exportsMillions of live animals are transported over long distances on European roads, only to be killed

on arrival. Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England, updates us on his work to oppose this cruel practice.

Sadly, late last spring the export of live animals from Ramsgate port in Kent resumed. Animals from as far away as Cumbria and North Wales are packed into transporters to travel vast distances across the continent, often to be slaughtered upon arrival at their destination

Last year Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) reported that EU welfare protection safeguards were being ignored or poorly applied, causing suffering and distress to the animals. I believe that EU welfare standards must be rigorously enforced and so I’ve written to both the European Commissioner and the UK government urging them to ensure these laws are fully enforced.

Animal suffering during live exports and long journeys could be avoided by strict limits to journey

times, and requiring animals to be slaughtered near to where they are reared. It is not acceptable to allow live animal exports to continue merely to satisfy traders’ thirst for profit. In the European Parliament the Greens are keeping up the pressure on the European Commission to introduce an eight-

hour, EU-wide limit on journey times, as a step towards ending all live exports.

Recently 45 sheep had to be euthanized at Ramsgate after being transported in a

truck declared unfit for use. Campaigners had hoped such incidents would bring an end to this abhorrent trade but after a recent High Court ruling, exports have now been allowed to resume. I believe this trade must end and have written to the Agriculture Minister, asking him how the

many valid animal welfare concerns will be addressed.

If you want to join me in raising your objections with Defra then you can find out more on the CIWF website: http://action.ciwf.org.uk

Transport improvements in Brighton & Hove have received recognition in recent months, with several accolades awarded both in the UK and the EU.

The Campaign for Better

Transport found Brighton & Hove to be the least car dependent city outside London. The organisation looked at 26 urban areas in England and assessed them in five categories: planning, public transport, cycling and walking, car use, and future plans.

Brighton & Hove scored

particularly well on public transport, with bus punctuality and satisfaction levels placing the city at the top of that league. The city also fared well for having relatively few people using cars.

And it got top marks for its plans to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, to continue investment in public transport and to reduce congestion.

The report said: “Brighton’s plans appear well focused on reducing the need to travel, locating new developments close to existing

centres and around rail corridors. Infrastructure plans also appear well thought through, with an emphasis on public transport and walking.”

And the European Union is taking note too. The EU-funded organisation CIVITAS, which campaigns for cleaner and better transport in cities, named Brighton & Hove runner-up in the CIVITAS City of the Year Award, second only to San Sebastian in Spain.

The organisation reported: “Through clear political leadership and continuous consultation with experts and local stakeholders, the city has successfully planned, implemented and evaluated its transport policy measures. In this way, the city has proved itself to be a paradigm of excellence, inspiring and serving as a model to guide and stimulate the further development on sustainable mobility initiatives in Europe.”

Meanwhile, the Old Shoreham Road cycle route has been named one of the UK’s best new cycling initiatives by the national cycling charity CTC. The project, which was largely funded by a grant from the charity Sustrans, includes an extra wide bike lane where cyclists have priority over traffic turning out of side roads.

2nd least car dependent city in UK

Uni entrants down 21% A dramatic fall in the number of students from Brighton and Hove applying to study at university is being blamed on the Government’s decision to increase tuition fees to as much as £9,000 per year.

The number of students from Brighton Pavilion applying for degree courses fell from 4,286 in 2011 to 3,365 in 2012, a drop of 21%. Part of the drop can be accounted for by people going on apprenticeship schemes, though by no means all.

Green MP Caroline Lucas said: “The decisions to raise the tuition fee cap to £9,000 a year, scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance and cut college funding are proving to be a toxic combination for many young people whose families are already struggling with rising living costs.

“There are alternatives to these damaging policies. An education tax on the top 4% of companies would require business to pay its fair share for the benefits it receives from higher education and would generate enough money to abolish tuition fees altogether.”

The new range of hybrid buses used by Brighton & Hove Buses will help reduce emissions.

Green Euro MP Keith Taylor talks to an animal rights protester at Ramsgate in Kent.

City news 04 | Winter 2012-13

News in brief

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WAKE UP TO A WOODBURNER!

Green MP Caroline Lucas helped win a reprieve for badgers when her motion calling on

the Government to abandon its proposed cull was carried by 147 to 28 votes. Veterinary surgeon and former government scientist Iain McGill explains why badgers are under threat. Badgers are a much-loved British animal, but one living under a death sentence. The debatable science behind the proposed badger cull is the theory that badgers spread tuberculosis, or TB, to cattle. Yet the Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs (Defra)’s own £50 million research project showed that badger culling actually increases TB in surrounding areas, and concluded that “badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to bovine TB control.”

Despite this, the Coalition have cherry-picked the science to support a cull. The advice comes

from the Government’s chief scientist David King, who also recommended the mass slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth disease epidemic.

The truth is that since the 1950s, cows have been inbred to produce ever-larger quantities of milk, but with little resistance to diseases like BSE and TB. The Government and dairy industry are keen for business as usual, so a scapegoat had to be found.

Strong opposition to the cull has come from the Green Party. Six vets, including myself and Caroline Allen, the Green spokesperson on animal issues, published a letter in two journals which concluded: “The widespread shooting of a protected indigenous species like the badger would be brutal, misguided, foolish, disgraceful, expensive and counter-productive.”

We weren’t alone. 30 other animal disease experts wrote to the Observer also arguing against the cull, and organizations like the RSPCA and PETA were vociferously opposed. Brian May’s petition against the cull gained over 160,000 signatures.

But while the motion headed by Caroline won overwhelming support, the Coalition still intends to carry out its slaughter next year. We must continue to make Green voices heard in opposing the cull. We also need to campaign for de-industrialisation of the dairy industry, and compassion in the way dairy cattle are treated.

Badgers: 1 Coalition: 0Pickles in a pickleGreen council leader Jason Kitcat joined with leaders of Southampton and Portsmouth councils to ask Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to reveal what funding councils will receive from central Government. The exact figure won’t be announced until December, leading to rushed decisions.

The three leaders also criticised the decision to force councils to call a referendum if they want to raise council tax by more than 2%.

Jason said: “Government must trust us to make the right decisions for our cities. In some cases this might mean modest increases to council tax, often preferable to reducing or stopping services as we work to deliver radical new models of public services.”

School meals win award Brighton & Hove has become the first area in Sussex to win a prestigious award from the Soil Association for school meals. The Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark is awarded for fresh food that is free from additives and better for animal welfare.

Other criteria are that 75% of dishes are freshly prepared, eggs are free range, menus are seasonal, no GM ingredients are used, and meat is from farms that satisfy UK welfare standards.

The award was won by the council’s school meals contractor, Eden Foodservice, which provides around 7,000 meals a day across 60 schools in Brighton and Hove.

College days for freeA free ‘university’ for all ages offering everything from playing drums to building websites has been launched. Free University Brighton is a resource for everyone, regardless of financial means, as tutors are invited to teach for free. Current courses include writing skills, making cheap, warm clothing and studying alternative medicine.

Ali Ghanimi created the project in response to the cuts and privatisation of education. “The rising cost of courses means it’s difficult for many of us to acquire new knowledge and skills,” she said. “People love the idea of reclaiming education and have shown a great deal of interest. The sky’s the limit in terms of what you can learn.”

More details at www.freeuniversitybrighton.org.

Winds of change

www.garybarker.co.uk

House needs your waste!

Toothbrushes, video tapes, shells, old televisons and broken toys aren’t materials you’d normally associate with house building. Think again. An innovative new project may point the way to recycling all waste into construction materials.

The Brighton waste house has its roots in The House That Kevin Built. Masterminded by design guru Kevin McCloud, this was the first prefab house in the UK made entirely from eco-friendly materials. Built in six days in 2008 for the TV show Grand Designs, the house wasn’t intended to be a permanent structure but was an experiment in using sustainable materials for building.

Now, the University of Brighton is working with Duncan Baker-Brown of BBM Sustainable Design, architect of the original house, to build an extraordinary new studio at the Grand Parade Campus.

The building will be made entirely of locally sourced waste material. The team is currently procuring the construction materials and is on the

lookout for concrete blocks, sand, cement, and timber and plywood in particular to start making the main framework for the building.

In due course, the local Freegle group (http://freegle.in/Brighton) will be encouraging people to donate waste materials that are currently unrecyclable to be used as a filling for the hollow panels being constructed from reclaimed timber. As the motto of the project states, ‘there is no such thing as waste, just stuff in the wrong place!’

The studio will be a prototype for sustainable building and a working laboratory for researchers monitoring environmental performance. It will provide information for builders and architects who want to create a low-carbon industry but don’t currently have sufficient know-how to make this happen.

More details at http://arts.brighton.ac.uk. To donate materials contact Cat Fletcher at BrightonWasteHouse@gmail.com or call 07962 449573. NH

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Budget Supplement Winter 2012-13 | 012013 Budget

Government singles out Brighton & Hove for cutsRecent data analysis by theGuardian* shows that, when itcomes to cuts, Brighton & Hove isthe worst-hit council in the south-east of England ... by a large margin.It’s also one of the most affected inthe country.

The Guardian’s data experts mappedcuts for the whole of England,authority by authority, and showedthat while all other councils in thesouth east face cuts of less than £50per head of population, Brighton andHove faces up to a massive £200 perhead, as much as double the threathanging over cities in the south, suchas Portsmouth or Southampton.

“This city hasbeen unfairlytargeted”

Appeal against cuts

Jason Kitcat, leader of Brighton &Hove City Council, has written toEric Pickles, the ConservativeSecretary of State forCommunities & LocalGovernment, appealingagainst the cuts to Brightonand Hove, which he sayshas been “singled out” forausterity.

"We couldn’t have made thepoint plainer to Mr Picklesthat this city has been unfairlytargeted,” said Councillor Kitcat.

* Nov 14, 2012, online

The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP

Photo: Dept. for Com

munities and Local Governm

ent

It’s 2% well spentThe Green administration inBrighton & Hove is proposing amodest 2% council tax rise fromApril 2013 – less than inflation.

The figure was formally announcedin draft budget proposals putforward by the Greens at the end ofNovember and the final decision onthe proposal will be made at theBudget Council meeting on February28th.

“It would addabout 43p a weekto council tax forthe averagehousehold”Councillor Leo Littman, who headsup the Greens’ budget proposals,said: “We understand money’s tightfor many people at the moment, but2% is a small contribution, belowinflation, to help keep essentialservices going. It would add about43p a week to council tax for theaverage household – less than theprice of a stamp – and would make abig difference in reducing the impactof the cuts that have been imposedby the combined efforts of the

Coalition government inWestminster and the oppositionparties in Brighton & Hove.”

“a 2% rise will goa long waytowards keepingour libraries open,children's centresrunning andstreets swept”““With the scale of cuts we face thisyear, we can’t promise to protect100% of every service completely. Buta 2% rise will go a long way towardskeeping our libraries open, children'scentres running and streets swept .”

It’s estimated that without thecouncil tax rise, the cuts faced by thecity would be around ten per centworse.

Central government funding cuts - Brighton and Hove worst hit in South East

The government has decreed thatany council seeking a rise above 2%should hold a referendum. This lawmeans it simply isn’t worthcontemplating: a referendum wouldcost the city too much. So the councilhas no plans for a referendum thisyear.

No referendum

Data compiled by Newcastle City Council andpublished in the Guardian

Why a 2012 taxfreeze createdcuts in 2013-14In February 2012, opposition partiesin Brighton & Hove overturned Greenproposals for a tax rise, largelypaying for the freeze by creating a£3.66m hole in the 2013 budget.That’s now coming back to hurt thecity, increasing the government cutsby as much as 20%.

There is a consensus amongConservatives, Libdems and Labourthat public sector cuts areessential, and local governmentmust do its share – even if it’s thelion’s share.

The Green Party fundamentallydisputes this view and Green MPCaroline Lucas has consistentlycampaigned against the idea thatausterity cuts are the right thing forour economy, a view nowincreasingly shared by leadingeconomists and bodies such as theIMF and World Bank, which hadpreviously backed austeritymeasures.

Chair of the Brighton & Hove GreenParty Rob Shepherd said: “The entiregovernment and Labour strategiesin response to the crash have been

to cut welfare, benefits andessential services while pouring£325 billion of so-calledquantitative easing into thebottomless pits of highly profitablebanks, only to see it disappearwithout trace.

“The £20m-£25m in Coalition cutsfaced by Brighton & Hove this yearwill have a profoundly negativeeffect on the city for years to come,yet it represents less than 0.0001%of quantitative easing. It’s nothingcompared to the tax which ought tobe paid in this country bycompanies such as Starbucks,Google, Amazon and more, and islittle more than a bonus for asuccessful top-flight director or citytrader.”

The big picture

GREENLEAF CUTS SPECIAL

Last year about 10% of councilsdefied the government and increasedtheir council tax. This year, the LocalGovernment Association estimatesthe number at nearer 20%.

Everybody’sdoing it

Voluntary sector protectedVoluntary organisations are vitalto Brighton & Hove, and to theindividuals and communities theysupport, and many depend onexternal funding.

In other authorities, the voluntarysector has become a target for cutsbut the Greens in Brighton & Hovehave maintained council funding forthe sector at the previous year’s level.

2%

2013 Budget

Children’sCentres SavedNo Children’s Centres in Brighton& Hove are planned for closure in2013-14. This good news forparents and children wasannounced by the Greenadministration in November aspart of its budget proposals.

Committee Chair for Children andYoung People, Sue Shanks, said: “Aquestion mark had temporarilyhung over a few of the smallerChildren’s Centre services, butsound financial management ourChildren’s Services departmentduring 2012 has resulted in anunderspend, which we’re nowproposing should be used toensure that all Children’s Centresare kept open.

“We’ve always said that oppositionand media announcements oftheir demise were premature,” shecontinued, “and now that’s provedto be true. Greens have ensuredthat in 2013 Children’s Centres aresaved.”

Cuts nationwideAs Brighton & Hove worries about the Coalition cuts it faces, all local authoriti government will devastate local services and local economies, and could cause

But the beliefs and choices of council administrations can still make a huge differ compares to some other authorities.

The GreenmanifestocommitmentBrighton & Hove Greens made thispledge at the last council elections.

“During the next four years theTory and LibDem Coalition of AllThe Cuts will rob the city of £84million that should have beenspent on vital services. Thingswouldn’t have been much betterunder Labour. Having lost controlof the banks, they were intent onmaking the public pay for theirmistakes.

“The deep cuts will bringhardship for vulnerable men,women and children who rely onessential care and supportservices provided by the council.It will also mean the loss of manycity council and private sectorjobs.

“In these circumstances Greencouncillors will do their very bestfor the city. We can’t stop the cutsmade at source by the Coalition,but we will fight them all the wayand we will oppose any attemptto further privatise localservices.”

And this is what we’re doing.

Leading the oppositionCaroline Lucas, Green MP for BrightonPavilion, has been consistentlycampaigning against Coalition cuts inparliament, in the media and inassociation with organisations andpeople most affected by cuts. She is theonly MP to speak so unswervinglyagainst the idea that austerity is theright answer to Britain’s currentsituation.

Instead, she has spent two yearsoffering an economic vision whichwould see quantitative easing moneyinjected into the real economy insteadof being lost to the banks, investmentin jobs and the green economy, and arelentless pursuit of tax avoidance,which has suddenly become flavour ofthe month with a government thathas run out of alternatives.

She has campaigned against cuts towelfare, cuts to housing support, childpoverty and in recognition thatwomen are the most affected by cuts.And she is a leader in the fight against“The Big 6 Energy Fix”.

She has also tabled bills in parliament,such as the Tax and FinancialTransparency Bill, designed to forcebanks, companies and trusts to revealtheir use of offshore tax havens, andan early day motion calling for localconsultation on council tax benefitcuts.

Indeed, in the light of Labour’s supportof austerity, this has led many to callCaroline the “true leader of theopposition”.

With a budget approaching £3/4bn,Brighton & Hove is no stranger tolending and borrowing. For example,when cashflow allows, it makesshort-term loans and investments inthe financial markets, to earninterest, in accordance with thecouncil’s ethical investmentstatement.

The council can also borrow in orderto invest, if the investment makescommercial sense and the level ofrisk is low and the project wouldsatisfy an outside auditor. This iswhy it can borrow £14m from aGovernment fund, at a low interestrate, and re-loan it at a higherinterest rate to the commercially

sound i360 project, not only earningmoney for the city from the interestbut potentially seeding furtherinvestment and much neededimprovement in that part of theseafront.

What it cannot do is take out loans topay for its day-to-day services, suchas care, social services or benefits, asthese services cannot pay back theloan. The council cannot start to rackup an overdraft. And if councillorsinstructed council officers to pushthe council into the red, officerswould simply have to refuse.

Smart investments

Keeping publicservices publicGreens are opposed tothe privatisation ofpublic services.

This is opposite to theConservatives, who arefamous for privatisingeverything, whether it’selectricity and gas,leading to today’sscandalous energy bills,or the railways, whichthe Greens would re-

nationalise. It is also incontrast to Labour,which brought theprofit-making privatesector into schools byinventing academiesand introduced thediscredited Atos toassess sick and disabledpeople’s fitness for work.

Greens believe localgovernment services

should remain in publiccontrol and arecommitted to keepingBrighton & Hove’sexisting publicly runcouncil services awayfrom the hands ofprivate profit-makingalternatives, despite thepressures of thegovernment and localopposition councillors.

PetitionWe, the undersigned residents of Brighton & Hove, call on the Westm and to reverse the public service cuts that unfairly target Brighton & hard-pressed people.

Name Address Po

Please return to Brighton & Hove Green Party, 39-41 Surre

Budget Supplement Winter 2012-13 | 03

uthorities are equally anxious that the level of cuts being imposed by

d cause cities simply to stop functioning.

ge difference to how cuts are applied. Here’s a round-up of how Brighton & Hove

Help fight the cutsDirect Action

Write to Eric Pickles, Secretary ofState, Communities and LocalGovernmentHouse of Commons, London, SW1A0AATel: 020 7219 4428Email: picklese@parliament.uk

Campaigns

UK UncutGrassroots movement taking actionto highlight alternatives togovernment spending cuts. http://www.ukuncut.org.uk

Brighton Stop the Cuts CoalitionAn umbrella organisation for over100 groups and individuals fightingthe cuts locally.http://stopthecutscoalition.org/brighton

Brighton Benefits CampaignOrganises actions around what ishappening to benefits and theWorkfare.http://brightonbenefitscampaign.wordpress.com

Brighton & Hove Women AgainstCuts (bhwac)A group of local women takingaction against the Coalition cuts.Women will bear the brunt of thecuts by more than two thirds.http://bhwac.wordpress.com

Disabled people against the CutsFighting for justice and human rightsfor all disabled people at a time ofausterity and welfare cuts.http://www.dpac.uk.net

Black TriangleGalvanising opposition to the currentvicious attack on the fundamentalhuman rights of disabled people bythe UK Government.http://blacktrianglecampaign.org

Keep our NHS publicA national organisation (with localbranches including Brighton)fighting the consequences of the2012 Health and Social Care Act.http://www.keepournhspublic.com

Worth visiting

Diary of a benefit scroungerA site to share information onwelfare cuts, illness, disability andgeneral, current political thought.http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk

False EconomyA website resource for everyoneconcerned about the impact of thegovernment’s cuts on theircommunity, their family or their job.http://falseeconomy.org.uk

Worried about the cuts?Advice and SupportOrganisations

Brighton Unemployed FamiliesCentreA wide range of services: a playroomand childcare support and advice,refreshments and a low cost veganlunch, welfare and benefits advice,courses in a wide range of subjects,temporary housing support,volunteer opportunities, computerand Internet access and much more.6 Tilbury Place, Brighton, BN2 0GYTel: (01273) 671213 Website: http://www.bucfp.org/

RISEIn times of financial pressure,families can be more vulnerable toinstanced of domestic violence. Riseis a charity which supports women,children, young people and familiesaffected by domestic abuse inBrighton & Hove and across WestSussexCall Rise: (01273) 622 822

Jobcentre PlusFacing redundancy or lost your job?To claim Job Seeker's Allowance,Income Support or Employment &Support Allowance, call JobcentrePlus:Tel: 0800 055 66 88Textphone: 0800 023 48 88

Brighton Housing Trust (HousingAdvice Enquiries)Community Base, 113-117 QueensRoad, Brighton, BN1 3XG.Tel: (01273) 234737Email: advice@bht.org.uk Website: www.bht.org.uk

Brighton & Hove Citizens AdviceBureau (CAB)Offering free, confidential, impartialand independent advice onmanaging your finances, includingopening bank accounts, problemswith bank accounts, benefitoverpayments, council rent arrears,budgeting and general debtproblems. Hove Town Hall, 1 Tisbury Road,HOVE, East Sussex, BN3 4AHTel: 0845 120 3710Website:www.brightonhovecab.org.uk

East Sussex Credit Union East Sussex Credit Union is a not-for-profit savings and loans co-operativefocusing on the needs of those onlow incomes.Community Base, 113 Queens Road,Brighton, BN1 3XGTel: (01273) 234 858 Email: info@credit-union.org.ukWebsite: www.credit-union.org.uk

Money Advice & Casework Support(MACSS)24 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1ELTel: (01273) 664000Advice Line: (01273) 664040Email: info@macss.org.ukWebsite: www.macss.org.uk

St Lukes Advice Service18 Exeter Street, Brighton, BN1 5PGTel: (01273) 549203Email:info@stlukesadviceservice.org.ukWebsite:www.stlukesadviceservice.org.uk

BHCC website info about changes tobenefitsWebsite: http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=b1163144

For information only. The Brighton &Hove Green Party does not endorseany third party organisationmentioned in these pages and is notresponsible for the contents of thirdparty websites.

e Westminster government to end its attack on local government ghton & Hove and will do so much damage to the city and its

Postcode Email

1 Surrey St, Brighton, BN1 3PB

From April 2013, Brighton & Hovefaces roughly £20m to £25m incuts.

This will be made up of around£16m to £21m in direct Coalitioncuts and nearly £4m cuts inheritedfrom the council tax freeze imposedin February 2012 by the local Labourand Conservative parties.

The 2013 cuts eclipse those of 2012.But we won’t know until mid-January exactly how much or whichservices will be affected.

Cuts announcement timetableThe final cuts figure depends ondecrees which are arriving fromWhitehall throughout most ofDecember, starting with theChancellor’s ‘Autumn’ Statement.These set the actual formulas forcuts and then have to be interpretedlocally for Brighton & Hove.

Many Coalition cuts will be inspecific budget areas. Across muchof the budget, the government willcut particular funds, grants orsubsidies and give councils littlechoice. With the remainder, it willsimply hack away at the money andleave councils to decide how tospend what’s left.

The Green administration willdigest everything and announce itsdetailed spending proposals inJanuary and February, to be finallydecided by the full council of allthree political parties in the city onFebruary 28th.

“The Coalition,unable to balancethe books inWhitehall, hassimply dumpedthe nation’seconomicproblem onBritain’s localauthorities.”

Finalising the cutsAlthough council tax and spendingproposals are drawn up by theGreen administration, Greens are aminority of the full council. Thismeans that at the Budget Councilmeeting on February 28th 2013,which will finalise spending plansfor the year, Labour and theConservatives can together outvotethe Greens, provided their proposalsbalance the books. Having Labourand Tories on the same side mayseem odd but that’s how theyimposed a council tax freeze lastFebruary and added nearly £4m tothe 2013 cuts.

Coalition cuts, not Green cuts“It’s a safe bet that oppositionparties in Brighton & Hove willspend the next year trying to pin

Coalition cuts on the Green minorityadministration. Every change inservice and every saving, evenbeneficial ones, will be called a‘Green cut’. But that simply isn’thonest,” says council leader JasonKitcat.

“I speak regularly with other councilleaders of all political persuasions,”he says, “and we agree that everycouncil in the country is facing cutsfar worse than before. TheConservative-LibDem Coalition,unable to balance the books inWhitehall, has this year simplydumped the nation’s economicproblem on Britain’s localauthorities.”

Passing the buckThe Government is hoping no onewill notice, come the next election,that it’s actually Downing Streetthat is cutting libraries and parks,children’s services, care for theelderly, planning departments,alcohol licensing departments,council housing maintenance,council tax benefits, rubbishcollection and a host of other councilservices up and down the country.They’re doing this by slashing thecentral government funding thatunderpins them.

“Whose cuts?” says Councillor Kitcat.“Very definitely these are CoalitionCuts.”

Rebels without applauseFor the last 27 years, Labour andTory UK governments have graduallyreduced councils’ powers so that,today, there is no such thing as anillegal budget because no council hasthe ability to spend money it doesn’thave.

If central government cuts a council’sincome, the council gets less money.And it is no more possible for acouncil to go into the red than for anindividual to draw money from abank that has stopped the debit card.

Central government makes cuts andcontrols council taxes. Councils workwith dwindling resources.

And if a council rejects the cuts byproposing a budget in the red (a“deficit budget”) or refusing to set abudget at all, councillors don’t getfined or dragged off to jail: nothing sodramatic. Whitehall will simplymove in and take over, with a realrisk that it will set a much harshercuts-led budget than before.

Successive governments have madesure that rebellions can’t succeed:they just hurt the residents they’reintended to help

Who will care if we don’t?The NHS is responsible for medicalservices but the rest of the “welfarestate” is largely provided by localauthorities, responsible for servicessuch as residential care and homecare for the elderly, for children andfor other vulnerable people such asthose with mental health needs,together with social services.

This is by far the largest area ofexpenditure for Brighton & HoveCity Council, which is almost whollydependent on national governmentfor funding.

As these services form such a largeproportion of any council’s budget,they are extremely vulnerable tothe latest, far-reaching round ofCoalition cuts.

“It is simply unsustainable to go oncutting council funding when theadult care system is dangerouslyoverstretched” Conservative SirMerrick Cockell, leader ofKensington & Chelsea and chair ofthe Local Government Association,said earlier this year.

Nevertheless, it is vital that a highstandard of care is maintained in

the city, as many people receivingthat care are on extremely lowincomes and are also being badlyhit by other Coalition welfare cuts,such as benefit cuts and thegovernment’s ‘universal credit’, whichthe Chartered Institute of Housinghas said will leave 400,000 familieseven worse off than they are now.

Over the past year, the Greenadministration in Brighton & Hovehas effectively ring-fenced its carebudgets, following its pledge toprotect vulnerable people in its2012-13 budget.

But the scale of cuts that loom forthe next year pose far greaterchallenges. Councillor Rob Jarrett,Green Chair of the Adult Care &Health Committee, said: “As Britain’sfirst Green administration, we aremore committed than any othercouncil to protecting these servicesas far as possible. But with the levelof cuts being imposed, that willhave consequences for less essentialservices in the city.”

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20442760

Budget Supplement Winter 2012-13 | 042013 Budget

How the cuts work

The end of local governmentLocal authorities are fighting fortheir lives under thebombardment of government cutsraining down on essential councilservices and benefits.

Brighton & Hove is a member of theSouth East Seven – seven top-tiercouncils that are lobbying localgovernment minister Eric Pickles onthe severity of the cuts. This group isin no doubt of the longer term visionfor local authorities. “It’s clear to allof us,” says Councillor Kitcat, “thatthe Coalition has a simple aim: tophase out all central governmentfunding of local authorities by 2020.

“This means nothing less than the

end of local democracy and theeffective replacement of localgovernment by Eric Pickles’s vision ofa series of commissioning boardsthat exist only to buy in privatisedservices from commercial, profit-

driven companies. And we knowhow well the public benefits fromservice providers such as G4S.”

This privatising, budget airlineapproach to council services is not adistant nightmare. Conservatives inBarnet, North London, are alreadypushing through a controversial ‘nofrills’ council, known as ‘easyCouncil’,with far-reaching cuts and 70% ofservices outsourced, whileConservatives in Suffolk were only

just defeated last year in plans tobecome a ‘virtual council’.

“Of course councils need to keepmodernising,” says Jason Kitcat. “Butto demolish local government, andwith it local democracy, is going toofar. And it’s being rushed throughwithout any democratic mandate –this wasn’t in any party’s generalelection manifesto.

“And the biggest problem is that ithurts most those who are most inneed. Our greatest outlay isn’tlibraries, street sweeping or bincollections, important though theyare. It’s to fulfil our role in thewelfare state: we provide care forchildren and older people, we areresponsible for social services,council housing and mental healthservices, to name a few, and inBrighton & Hove it’s the council thatsubsidises the voluntaryorganisations that do so much goodin the city.”

“It is simply unsustainable to go oncutting council funding when theadult care system is dangerouslyoverstretched”

“the coalition has a simple aim: to phaseout all central government fundingof local authorities by 2020”

Special reportWinter 2012-13 | 05

Putting B&H on the (Eco) mapReceiving Biosphere status from UNESCO would bring financial benefits and enhance the city’s green status, says Nicola Hodgson

The Everglades of Florida, the Baa Atoll of the Maldives and the Great Gobi of Mongolia are landscapes that don’t appear to have much in common with the chalky downlands of Sussex, but that may soon change. These areas are already part of a global network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and Brighton and Hove (in conjunction with the South Downs National Park) is working on a bid to join them.

UNESCO began accrediting biospheres in the 1970s, and there are now 610 in 117 countries. There are six sites in the UK, with Galloway and Southern Ayrshire receiving accreditation in 2012 – the first such approval in the country since 1977.

Although the word ‘biosphere’ brings to mind Eden Project-style geodesic domes, a UN biosphere is not an enclosed space; it is simply an area whose environmental importance is legally protected and internationally recognised.

Becoming a biosphere reserve would brand the Brighton and Hove

area as an international ‘site of excellence’ because of the unique nature of its environment. The proposed site of the biosphere would stretch from the River Adur in the west to the River Ouse in the east. It would include the city of Brighton and Hove, the coast and the sea.

The fact that the proposed site includes an urban area is particularly striking: Brighton would be the first city in the UK to

be part of a biosphere.A successful bid would see the

area become a leading light for conservation and sustainable development, both in the UK and worldwide. Biospheres have both practical and ideological remits: they conserve unique ecosystems, but also open up opportunities for growth in green jobs, eco-tourism, inward investment, urban renewal and carbon reduction.

Green Cllr Pete West has been the scheme’s principal cheerleader for the Green Party. He says: ‘I can’t emphasise highly enough the significance of this project. It will be an important international accolade that will help open many doors. It will stand to draw in funds to support work to recognise and conserve the natural treasures in our local environment. The biosphere covers the whole city and

will dictate our economic, transport, and land-use policies, and will be the umbrella under which we develop the One Planet City.’

For more information see www.biospherehere.org.uk.

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Green zones UN biospheres have three zones: The Core Area is a legally protected and recognized conservation site. In Brighton’s case, the Core Area would be Castle Hill, on the Downs to the north-east of the city.The Buffer Zone would be the South Downs National Park and coastal areas. These areas foster green-minded economic activity such as eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture.The Transition Area would include the city of Brighton and Hove. This offers opportunities for greening the city such as food-growing projects and preserving parks and open spaces.

Community news 06 | Winter 2012-13

Brunswick & Adelaideb During a busy couple of months in Brunswick and Adelaide, Phelim and Ollie have been working closely with the strong and vocal Residents’ Associations on a variety of issues. On Licensing, they brokered discussions with local venues to keep tabs on the late night economy. Ollie took up an initiative of the Brunswick and Adelaide Residents’ Group and worked with the new Coop store on Western Road to get a large advert for wine replaced with an award-winning image of Brunswick Town created by a local artist.

Care of the Garden Squares and Hove Lawns is close to residents’ hearts (illustrated by it winning the Silver Gilt award for Brunswick Town in Bloom again in 2012) and both Ollie and Phelim have pressed for events organisers on the Lawns to contribute appropriately to the maintenance of our open spaces. This is of particular importance to the development of the new Seafront Strategy.

Another thing that’s regularly at the top of the in-tray is bins, and the good news here is that a survey about the communal recycling pilot showed overwhelming support. People in the pilot streets, on the whole, now find it easier to recycle, and we’re recycling nearly twice as much waste as before.

Central Hoveb Central Hove’s Green councillor Christopher Hawtree continues to find that residents think it a convivial spot in which to live. He has been working with the George Street traders to promote

and improve the street. Fears in the summer that its occupancy rate was falling have been seen off, and there are plans to promote it up to Christmas and beyond as a place – along with Church Road, Blatchington Road and Hove Street – which bucks the national trend. Small shops, well run, draw people from far and wide.

Naturally, any seafront area has problems, but Christopher is glad to have brought to the table the owners of one boisterous language school and make them understand that it is in everybody’s interest for students to keep the noise down. Says Christopher: “I welcome any resident to discuss problems over a cup of tea or coffee. These are not easy times, but I think we can see a way through them. And I am so very glad that, unlike many places, we have kept all our libraries open. These are vital to a free society. Hove is a wonderful place.”.Goldsmidb It’s been a busy few months for Goldsmid councillors. They’ve been working the repairs to Wilbury Villas bridge, the impact of parking at the new hospital on Montefiore Road, the proposed changes to Seven Dials, and rolling out a 20mph speed limit across the ward. They’ve also held three residents’ meetings about the proposed Hove Station development, and any resident who wants to be involved in developing a neighbourhood plan should contact Rob. Rob and Alex hold surgeries by appointment, and Ruth holds surgeries at Honeycroft and

Somerhill (contacts opposite). Please do get in touch if you have a problem – no matter how big or small. Hanover & Elm Groveb Following a successful trial scheme in Hanover, the council is moving ahead with plans to offer communal bins on a street by street basis. Residents are being contacted to give their view on whether they would like a communal bin on their street. The council will then make

the decision for each street, based on what the majority opinion for that street is.

Rubbish collection has been a challenge in the area. Narrow streets make it difficult to use wheelie bins without blocking the path. Using rubbish bags and ‘binvelopes’ can lead to rubbish being strewn about the street, particularly if they are attacked by seagulls or foxes.

Brighton and Hove is already served by over 700 communal street bins, which are emptied on a regular basis to ensure they don’t overfill. The major concern for most residents is about where the bins are placed; the council looks to place them preferably on double yellow lines so as not to affect parking but also looks at areas that will have the least impact on residents.

Preston Parkb Local councillors, Mike Jones, Amy Kennedy and Leo Littman, together with residents from the streets around Blaker’s Park, are delighted with the news that £30,000 of funds, which had been allocated to improving road safety around the Park, has been doubled to £60,000.

Leo says: “This money will now clearly go a lot further in protecting park users. It is most important that it can be spent on protecting the many children and elderly residents who can sometime feel that they are taking their lives in their hands simply getting to and from the

park. The question now is how best to achieve that goal. A number of really good ideas have already been put forward by local residents and the Friends of Blaker’s Park, and residents will now be consulted in order to make absolutely sure the money will be spent in ways which directly help to protect these vulnerable Park users.”

Queen’s Parkb Queens Park’s three Green councillors, Stephanie Powell, Ben Duncan and Geoffrey Bowden, have been rolling up their sleeves over the autumn working on some exciting neighbourhood projects as well as helping residents with more everyday issues. Stephanie has been taking action with residents on street drinking nuisance around Egremont Place and Tyson House, where two shops in the area have been supplying super-strength alcohol to street drinkers with all the associated anti-social behaviour problems.

The councillors have been actively supporting local community groups over the transfer of the much loved Pepperpot tower on Queens Park Road to the Landmark Trust, which has a well-established reputation for caring for historic buildings all over the country. Stephanie has also been talking to residents about the possibility of opening the garden of the derelict Brookmead block of flats to residents of nearby flats

Twixt Downs and the seaIt’s active local communities that make a vibrant city, and there’s certainly been plenty to keep our Green councillors busy.

Focus on: Withdean Cllr Sue ShanksWhere is Withdean?In the northwest of the city, east of Dyke Road.

How long have you lived there?Nine years .

Why did you move there?We moved to Brighton for my husband’s work.

What did you do before you became a councilor? I was a higher education teacher, at Chichester University and others, specialising in the training of youth workers.

What made you want to be a Green councillor?I agreed with their policies and have always been interested in politics.

What are the main issues in your ward?Parking is a big one as many people are in favour of extending

residents’ parking and others not. People are concerned about inconsiderate parking near schools. Primary school places (not enough of them) and secondary catchment areas. Transport to school. Road safety – people driving too fast on residential roads and using them as rat runs.

What have the Greens achieved locally? We will be having a pedestrian crossing on Surrenden Road soon, which I have been campaigning for. And we are working with Sainsbury’s to improve road safety near their store.

What is the most important thing you’d like to see happen locally?Better leisure provision for young people.

And nationally? More autonomy for local government .

What’s best shop in your ward?Choice Cuts organic butcher in Preston Drove.

Best restaurant?Crown and anchor pub, overlooking Preston Park.

Best coffee?The coffee shop at Westdene.

Interview by Joe Gill

The new crossing from East Street to the seafront is part of a bigger project of making the Old Town more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

Focus on: Goldsmid Cllr Ruth Buckley-SalmonWhere is Goldsmid?It’s the area surrounding St Ann’s Wells Gardens in Hove.

How long have you lived there?I moved to Goldsmid from the North Laine four years ago.

Why did you move there?We chose the area for St Ann’s Wells Gardens (I have a one- and a three-year-old) and the proximity to the station, beach and shops.

What did you do before you became a councilor?My previous career was as corporate communications specialist in London.

What made you want to be a Green councillor?I have voted Green all my voting life, though while living in London was disengaged politically. I volunteered in the office for Caroline’s campaign and was asked to stand as a candidate. The timing was perfect and, as I’d been madly in love with the city since coming to uni here, it seemed like a great opportunity to get to know the city and its residents better.

What are the main issues in your ward?Parking, housing, the Old Shoreham Road cycle lane and the proposals for the Seven Dials roundabout.

What have Greens achieved locally? The Old Shoreham Road cycle lane, the proposed expansion of two nearby primary schools, and the Artichoke Trail at St Ann’s Wells.

What is the most important thing you’d like to see happen locally?More affordable and spacious housing and more jobs and apprenticeships

And nationally?For consumerist culture to be overtaken by a community-led and responsible culture.

What’s the best shop in your ward?Jasmin greengrocers at Seven Dials.

Best restaurant?Honeycroft Cafe is a little-known and affordable veggie gem – though my all time favourite veggie restaurant is Idyea in the North Laine.

Best coffee?It has to be Small Batch for the best soya latte – and the nicest staff.

Interview by Joe Gill

Winter 2012-13 | 07 Community news

who have no gardens. The three councillors met up with residents to hear their views on communal bins, pedestrian crossings on Eastern Road and the potential to refurbish the Queens Park bowling green, among many other issues.

Regencyb Regency Ward is seeing a range of significant public realm improvements either already underway or in planning. East Street and Preston Street have both seen significant improvements to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists while enhancing their connections with the seafront. Regency Square’s car park is completely refurbished, and new junctions to access it have been installed.

On the seafront, arches are being reinforced so that they can last another 120 years, and then be let out as business space for local firms. We’ll soon see traffic improvements for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in the Old Town and Seven Dials. Meanwhile the i360 tower is scheduled to see work start early next year.

St Peters & North Laineb Things are really looking up on London Road, in the heart of St Peter’s and North Laine. The Open Market redevelopment continues apace, and is due for completion next autumn. When finished, it will have space for 44 stalls, a central

area for eating and entertainment, as well as 87 new homes. And a successful bid to get London Road featured in the next Mary Portas series on BBC television will bring a further boost to local shops.

The Level has now closed till next summer as work begins to renew the park following the successful bid by the Green Council for over £2 million from the lottery. Exciting new developments include a café, water play, sensory garden and rich programme of activities. A new skatepark is being separately funded and is benefiting from a successful bid by the Council to the Veolia Environmental Trust, which distributes funding raised by the Land Fill Tax.

Supported by Green councillors, enthusiastic residents recently organised the first Round Hill community clean up day. Cllr Pete West, with his family and Cllr Ian Davey all enjoyed a sunny afternoon giving pavements close attention. Many residents joined in and vowed to repeat the event next year. City Clean supported the action providing brooms, gloves and removing refuse.

Providence Place in Ann Street has become a focus for EU funding as part of the Lively Cities scheme for improving public access spaces. Students from City College were brought in to help build terrace steps as part of the pilot project which gave local residents the opportunity

to have their say on how they want this centrally located yet underused park to look and feel in the future.. Withdeanb Several issues have been identified relating to road safety on routes to school, particularly to Westdene, and roads being used as rat runs, such as Tivoli and Reigate. Cllr Sue Shanks met with residents and with the chair of the transport committee, Ian Davey, about these issues. The council is starting to implement the 20mph scheme in the city and some residents are keen that Withdean should be part of the process as soon as possible.

It was recently announced that there will be a crossing on Surrenden Road – which is something Sue campaigned for during the local elections. There will also be a new crossing on the Drove, near the entrance to Preston Park, and improved road safety on Ditchling Road opposite Varndean School.

Residents have raised concerns about parking on the main road outside Sainsbury’s, and complained about litter and unsociable delivery times. Sue has meet with the manager and local residents and they are looking at the best way of stopping parking in the cycle lane there.

The Local Action team meets every two months at Withdean stadium and is open to all residents. Many issues are discussed, so do come along and express your views.

More information on councillors at www.brighton-hove.gov.ukTo email a councillor, write to: firstname.surname@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Brunswick & AdelaidePhelim MacCafferty tel: 291357@Phelimmac

Ollie Sykestel: 291413

Central Hove

Christopher Hawtree tel: 291144@chrishawtree

Goldsmid Alex Phillips tel: 294539@alexforgoldsmid

Rob Jarrett tel: 291148 @RobHove

Ruth Buckley tel: 291135

Hanover & Elm GroveBill Randall tel: 294366@BillRandallBHCC

Matt Follett tel: 291140

Liz Wakefield tel: 291423 @LizGreenBH

Hollingdean & Stanmer Sven Rufus tel: 296429@SvenRufus

Withdean Sue Shankstel: 291410@ShanksSue

Your Green councillorsBRiGHTON & HOvE’s Green councillors are here to help you on issues that concern you most. You can call them on the numbers below, or email using the address format at the bottom of the page. If you like to tweet, you can follow some on Twitter too.

Preston Park Amy Kennedy tel: 296445

Mike Jones tel: 291149

Leo Littman tel: 291152

Queen’s Park @QueensParkGreen Ben Ben Duncantel: 296441

Geoffrey Bowden tel: 291986 @@The SussexSquare

Stephanie Powell tel: 291156

Regency Jason Kitcat tel: 291011@jasonkitcat

Ania Kitcat tel: 296447

St Peter’s & North Laineian Davey tel: 296430

Lizzie Deane tel: 291138 Pete West tel: 296431

08 | Winter 2012-13

News from Caroline Lucas MP

Promoted by the Brighton and Hove Green Party Executive, 39-41 Surrey Street Brighton BN1 3PB.

‘Dragons’ Den’ contest for local social enterprises Brighton and Hove’s social enterprises play an important role in our economy and in promoting wellbeing in the city. To highlight some of the outstanding work being done in this growing sector and to help build capacity for local projects, Caroline has joined up with Ideas Factory, Albion in the Community and CVSF to create a Dragons’ Den-style initiative which

gives social enterprises the chance to bid for funds from investors.

After an initial training session, entrants will be whittled down to a final six to go before a judging panel at the Brighton and Hove Social Investment Pitch and Networking event at the AMEX stadium. Caroline hopes this event will give a boost to all those local organisations and individuals working for the good of communities, rather than just for profit.

Safeguarding the poorest from government cutsWith the government refusing to change course on its damaging austerity programme, Caroline is working to try to reduce the impact of cuts on the poorest and most vulnerable in Brighton and Hove.

Many people across the city are facing a desperate struggle to make ends meet in light of high rents, skyrocketing energy bills and the rising cost of food and transport. The government’s decision to slash the budget available for council tax benefit by around 10% – on top of a huge cut in overall funding to the council – looks set to make the situation even worse. And, by transferring all of the responsibility for deciding who should receive council tax benefit to local authorities, the government is trying to force the blame for these cuts onto councils themselves.

Caroline has tabled an Early Day Motion urging the government to reverse this harmful policy, and uses every opportunity to oppose the cuts and propose investment in jobs instead via parliamentary questions, letters, debates and demonstrations.

Fighting the anti-science badger cullBovine TB is a serious problem which causes real hardship and distress for farmers, so it’s crucial that the most effective evidence-based policies are put in place to tackle it.

Last year, the Government announced plans for a major badger cull in an attempt to control the disease – despite a weight of scientific evidence against this approach. Caroline has been at the forefront of the anti-cull campaign, tabling a motion in Parliament calling for “a more sustainable and humane solution” of vaccinating against TB. More than 160,000 people signed an e-petition against the cull, and a majority of MPs voted to oppose it in the debate that followed.

Caroline welcomed the government’s decision to delay the pilot until 2013 as a “great result for all of those who have campaigned

against the ill-judged, unscientific and unpopular badger cull”, but now wants to see the policy scrapped altogether. She was pleased to work alongside animal welfare campaigner Brian May on this issue, who told the Brighton Argus that, “If there was a chamber of people like Caroline who were aware, compassionate and articulate, the world would be a better place.”

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or visit www.ecotricity.co.uk/brightonandhove-gp

Terms and conditions

1. The offer is open to UK residents in the UK aged 18 or over. It’s not available to agents, distributors or any other person connected with the offer. 2. *The offer of £60 is conditional on you switching your dual fuel electricity and gas supply to Ecotricity on or before

31/12/12 having quoted the reference code printed above, or £40 if you switch just your electricity supply. For full terms and conditions, please go to www.ecotricity.co.uk/brightonandhove-gp.

Up to £60

donation to

Brighton & Hove

Green Party

when you join Ecotricity*

Alan Sanders of Albion in the Community, Heath Lansbury

from Ideas Factory, and Laura Williams from CVSF join

members of Brighton Permaculture Trust’s Scrumping Project.

Caroline joined forces with rock star Brian May to oppose the badger cull