Disappointment at Brighton and Hove missing out on £24m eco grant (From The Argus)
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Disappointment at Brighton and Hove missing out on £24m eco grant
11:30am Friday 30th November 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Key figures behind a bid for £24 million to turn Brighton and Hove into the greenest city have expressed their disappointment at missing out on the cash.
Brighton and Hove City Council was one of 30 local authorities invited to enter a national competition for the One Planet Eco City grant.
But despite being the country’s first Green-run council, city chiefs have now been told that Brighton and Hove’s bid was unsuccessful.
Bristol, London, Glasgow and Peterborough are the four cities still in the running for the cash.
Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “Naturally I’m very disappointed that, despite being shortlisted in the first round, we haven’t gone through to the final round.
“However our work to integrate smart city systems and encourage innovation continues.”
He added the bid process brought together “a fantastic range of local partners across all sectors”.
It comes five months after the local authority was handed £50,000 to develop the proposal.
The bid focused on Brighton and Hove becoming more environmentally-friendly.
One Planet status
City leaders believed this could be done while improving housing, transport, public health and the digital economy.
The aim was to turn Brighton and Hove into the first city in the world to gain One Planet status, which is aimed at reducing carbon emissions so people live within the available natural resources.
Among those involved were politicians, voluntary representatives and business leaders.
Brighton-based digital entrepreneur Greg Hadfield said: “Obviously, there will be some disappointment. It was, however, a privilege to help with such a high-quality and ambitious bid.
“I’m confident the work is only the beginning of articulating a strategy to ensure we use digital technologies to meet the needs of citizens, by building a prosperous and sustainable city.
“I look forward to learning from the experience of whichever is the winning city.”
Conservative councillor Geoffrey Theobald and Labour councillor Gill Mitchell agreed it was disappointing but added the local authority could build on the relationships which had been forged.
The winner will be announced in January.
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Comments(14)
Hove Actually
says...
12:31pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Would this ignore the fact we export our rubbish to Newhaven or dump it in land fill, pump raw sewage into the sea.
We also have no local resources to draw on so are net users of everything and we produce what?
How much did all these bids cost us the taxpayer?
HJarrs
says...
12:47pm Fri 30 Nov 12
We can afford to prop up the housing market and finance £50-100 billion on a replacement (that will never be used!) for the Trident nuclear deterent replacement yet can only find washers to spend on important environmental initiatives despite latest findings that we are heading for 5-7 degrees of global warming by 2100 ( which means must of us will witness some of this rise in temperature and its dire consequences).
Joshiman
says...
12:59pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Martha Gunn
says...
1:27pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Joshiman wrote:Precisely Joshiman. This Council of Clowns has lost all credibility even amongst its friends in the broader Green movement. There is widespread disillusionment and disappointment on the part of Green supporters everywhere with the ways things have gone with the first Green Party Council in the UK. Crackpot schemes and bloated claims. As my old mum used to say 'All fur coat and no knickers!'.
Because they know the grant would be wasted.Thats why.Their reputation in the Uk has gone viral.
HJarrs
says...
2:06pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Martha Gunn wrote:Yes, apparently all the green groups are up in arms they are complaining that the Greens are continuing to introduce more cycle lanes instead of free carparking for all! Disgraceful!
Joshiman wrote:Precisely Joshiman. This Council of Clowns has lost all credibility even amongst its friends in the broader Green movement. There is widespread disillusionment and disappointment on the part of Green supporters everywhere with the ways things have gone with the first Green Party Council in the UK. Crackpot schemes and bloated claims. As my old mum used to say 'All fur coat and no knickers!'.
Because they know the grant would be wasted.Thats why.Their reputation in the Uk has gone viral.
Can't wait till we get back to the dead hand of your Conservative administration.
martyt
says...
2:20pm Fri 30 Nov 12
HJarrs wrote:there jury is still out on man made global warming ,some say its as real as god ,some say the figures have been changed to suit the greens and them that profit for green energy ,me my self im still waiting for prove of both
We need to be investing billions not £25million for one planet living cities.
We can afford to prop up the housing market and finance £50-100 billion on a replacement (that will never be used!) for the Trident nuclear deterent replacement yet can only find washers to spend on important environmental initiatives despite latest findings that we are heading for 5-7 degrees of global warming by 2100 ( which means must of us will witness some of this rise in temperature and its dire consequences).
Crystal Ball
says...
3:18pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Martha Gunn wrote:That last sentence reminds me of a girl I once knew...
Joshiman wrote:Precisely Joshiman. This Council of Clowns has lost all credibility even amongst its friends in the broader Green movement. There is widespread disillusionment and disappointment on the part of Green supporters everywhere with the ways things have gone with the first Green Party Council in the UK. Crackpot schemes and bloated claims. As my old mum used to say 'All fur coat and no knickers!'.
Because they know the grant would be wasted.Thats why.Their reputation in the Uk has gone viral.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
3:32pm Fri 30 Nov 12
JumboJimbo
says...
3:33pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Allotmenteers are the only people actually growing food in this city, while other other groups like 'The Food Partnership' recieve grants from the Council of nearly £500,000 to talk about growing food and produce glossy pamphlets. When you think that the Greens wanted to put up allotment rents by 70% you have to ask yourself exactly where their intentions lie. Do they actually want to enable people to grow their own food? I would suggest that their failure regarding the allotments did not help their bid to become a One Planet City one little bit !
bug eye
says...
5:16pm Fri 30 Nov 12
gusset snatcher
says...
7:19pm Fri 30 Nov 12
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgeP
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spx?bcr=1
Stall69
says...
7:22pm Fri 30 Nov 12
The extra revenue could help to increase subsidy to people on lower & fixed incomes. Charging new tenants a higher rent would be encouraging serious growers, who in-turn would be inclined to maximise the productivity of their plots.
Dealing with idiots
says...
11:45pm Fri 30 Nov 12
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530
Wiggsy says...
12:25pm Fri 30 Nov 12
That said, it would have been interesting had the article elaborated on what differentiated between the submissions of B&H in comparison to Bristol, London, Glasgow and Peterborough's (Peterborough!?!)