Brighton and Hove 'cop watcher' Ben Duncan steps down

9:40am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

Brighton and Hove city councillor Ben Duncan Brighton and Hove city councillor Ben Duncan

A “cop watcher” has stepped from a key post – due to work commitments.

Ben Duncan has been Brighton and Hove City Council’s community safety spokesman for 18 months.

During that time he has been a strong advocate for protests and received criticism for asking if Brighton and Hove could become a centre for cannabis cafés.

But Coun Duncan has said a change in work commitments in London means he cannot now commit fully to the role.

This includes being chairman of the community safety forum, which helps to set neighbourhood policing priorities for the city.

Coun Duncan, who represents the Queen’s Park ward, told The Argus: “It has been the best part of six years of six years I have been community safety spokesman for the Greens and it has been an absolute privilege to have been chairman of the community safety forum since 2011.

Police and crime

“The system we have at the minute is that councillors should be remunerated through allowances and not paid as though it is a full time job.

“This means that some of us have to take on other jobs in addition to our council duties.”

It also means Coun Duncan, a former member of Sussex Police Authority, will also resign his position on the Police and Crime Panel, which holds the newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner to account.

He said he will remain as one of two city representatives on the body until a replacement is found.

A council spokeswoman said: “Coun Duncan has resigned as the chairman of the community safety forum. A replacement will be appointed soon.

“He will continue as chairman of the licensing committee.”

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Comments(14)

Dealing with idiots says...
9:51am Thu 10 Jan 13

A red letter day indeed. Now all we need is for all the rest of the rabble to quit.
Help them to do this.

Vote of NO confidence in the Green administration e petition now live on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. If you love your city and want to end the waste and destruction of the Greens, please sign the petition. We need 1250 signatures to get this discussed in full council. Surely there are 1250 angry people in the city who want to make a difference? Save Our City.
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6033530&
HPID=6033530

You can also contact us through
greensoutnow@gmail.c
om

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funkyyoyo says...
10:23am Thu 10 Jan 13

could you email me the link please in an email to me

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funkyyoyo says...
10:25am Thu 10 Jan 13

link does NOT work

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funkyyoyo says...
10:26am Thu 10 Jan 13

link does NOT work

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Weirdorama says...
11:02am Thu 10 Jan 13

Oh no, another bastion of common sense gone...

Only joking!

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bogs says...
12:01pm Thu 10 Jan 13

'Green will have to work for a living' Shock! Clown!

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peebee9 says...
12:15pm Thu 10 Jan 13

He's a 'prat', good riddance.

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Andy R says...
12:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

funkyyoyo wrote:
link does NOT work
Well, that'll save you wasting your time then. Only a week to go, and nearly 1000 signatures still to get. Good luck!

This "coup d'etat" petition is a nonsense. Labour and the Tories could form a coalition and take over tomorrow if they wanted to. Neither party has any intention whatsoever of doing so. Why else do you think no councillor from either party has expressed any support for this petition?

Even if it got the magic 1250 signatures, what do you suppose would be "discussed"? There is no legal means for the Council to be "dissolved" and new elections to be held between now and when they are next due in 2015.

In any case what democracy is there in 1250 people in a city of a quarter of a million overthrowing a council administration?

Alot of trouble to go to because some bloke doesn't like the loading restrictions outside his shop!

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Dealing with idiots says...
1:13pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Apologies. B&H seem to have changed the link to prevent people from voting easily. Democratic Greens? Don't make me vomit. There is a process to remove an elected group whilst in power. There Stop the Soviets taking over......oops sorry they did get in.

http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360

No I'm not Adam. He is much nicer than me.

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Fight_Back says...
1:50pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Andy R wrote:
funkyyoyo wrote:
link does NOT work
Well, that'll save you wasting your time then. Only a week to go, and nearly 1000 signatures still to get. Good luck!

This "coup d'etat" petition is a nonsense. Labour and the Tories could form a coalition and take over tomorrow if they wanted to. Neither party has any intention whatsoever of doing so. Why else do you think no councillor from either party has expressed any support for this petition?

Even if it got the magic 1250 signatures, what do you suppose would be "discussed"? There is no legal means for the Council to be "dissolved" and new elections to be held between now and when they are next due in 2015.

In any case what democracy is there in 1250 people in a city of a quarter of a million overthrowing a council administration?

Alot of trouble to go to because some bloke doesn't like the loading restrictions outside his shop!
Labour and the Tories won't work together because they are only interested in their own political careers NOT what is best for the city.

Report this post »

hovian says...
1:52pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Andy R wrote:
funkyyoyo wrote:
link does NOT work
Well, that'll save you wasting your time then. Only a week to go, and nearly 1000 signatures still to get. Good luck!

This "coup d'etat" petition is a nonsense. Labour and the Tories could form a coalition and take over tomorrow if they wanted to. Neither party has any intention whatsoever of doing so. Why else do you think no councillor from either party has expressed any support for this petition?

Even if it got the magic 1250 signatures, what do you suppose would be "discussed"? There is no legal means for the Council to be "dissolved" and new elections to be held between now and when they are next due in 2015.

In any case what democracy is there in 1250 people in a city of a quarter of a million overthrowing a council administration?

Alot of trouble to go to because some bloke doesn't like the loading restrictions outside his shop!
Oh I didn't realise it's Adam Campbell at work again....!!

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Dealing with idiots says...
4:34pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Well at least he does work for a living councillor.

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hovian says...
6:48pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
Well at least he does work for a living councillor.
you've got it all wrong mate - im not the green councillor you think i am.....try harder next time....!

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Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:03pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Great result, delighted that this waste of space is moving on and wish him the very worst in his new role so that he experiences similar levels of misery to those he and his party have imposed on us.

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