Sussex's great and good make their New Year's resolutions

“Doing everything we can to give Oscar Garcia, his staff, and our players the best possible chance of securing promotion to the Premier League is number one for everyone at the Albion.

“Making sure Albion fans continue to have a great experience at our matches is also very high onmylist, as is ensuring the club remains a relevant and very positive influence in our community.

“On a personal level, I’d really like to complete my first Brighton Marathon within 24 hours of the race starting – while also finding time during the year to see more of my family before they are grown up and leave home.”

Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner

“I’m not very good at New Year’s resolutions.

Last year I said I would take up fencing but the closest I got to this was replacing a couple of panels after the storm.

So in 2014 I will be stepping up my search for a local fencing class to join.

If anyone can recommend a group in Sussex that is looking for new members please let me know: spcc@sussexpcc.gov.uk.

“I am also going to make more time for family. As I turn 50 and mother turns 80 I’m even more aware of how precious our time spent together is.

“I have made an ongoing resolution to continue to work hard and be a strong voice for local people on policing and crime issues.

I look forward to sharing my progress with Argus readers in 2014.”

Julia Chanteray, President at Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce

“The recession’s over – let’s get on with it.

“This year I’d like to see businesses in Brighton and Hove start to make some decent money. Many of us say that we’re not that motivated by money, it’s doing a good job, having a flexible lifestyle or being creative that counts.

“All those things are important too, and are part of making a successful business, but it would be great to see more business owners stepping up a gear and developing “grown up” businesses.

“I’d like to see some more money in the local economy, companies who can afford to pay good wages, and businesses which can afford to invest in their long-term future.

“Making a little more profit in your business means that you have some cover for a rainy day, some money to spend on marketing, and maybe a little left over to treat yourself once in a while.

“Much of my work at the Joy of Business is helping people to make their business more profitable, while having fun and enjoying running a business at the same time. It’s definitely possible to have both, and 2014 should be the year that more of us go for it.”

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemp Town

“My resolution for 2014 is to continue working hard for everyone in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, and specifically focusingmyefforts on securing funding from the Government for the redevelopment of Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The hospital campaign has made real progress in 2013, and we have generated a huge amount of support from constituents who know how vital the issue is locally.

There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the redevelopment goes ahead, and I will continue doing what I can to lobby the Government, so that in 2014 Brighton is assured of the first rate hospital facility it deserves.

“I would like to take the opportunity to wish all of my constituents a Happy New Year. I am hopeful that 2014 will bring more good news for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, after a year which has seen the local economy growing impressively, as well as employment and youth unemployment falling consistently.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to remain accessible to my constituents throughout the year and, as always, I urge people to get in touch if there are any issues or concerns I can help with.”

Andy Winter, Chief executive at Brighton and Hove Housing Trust

“I have a couple of rather boring and predictable resolutions.

“The first is to be more disciplined on some basic things: reading and exercising more, and ensuring that my dog Daisy gets long and regular walks.

“The second is to ensure that we at Brighton Housing Trust help to define the debate about the future of public services, continue to improve our services, and ensure we reach those in most need.

“I would also like to be involved in something a bit off the wall, matching the shipping container homes project that opened in early December, a partnership between BHT and QED Property Ltd, and generously supported by Homebase.

“But I also want to learn to bake! I would want to be more Mary Berry than Paul Hollywood. Since being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, I have cut out all cakes and biscuits, and have lost two stone in weight as a result.

I want to learn to bake cakes suitable for diabetics. I particularly miss lemon drizzle cake. I’m sure theremust be a diabetic recipe for it out there.

“Can anyone helpmeachieve this New Year’s resolution?”

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion

“2014 looks like being a decisive year for the future of public services, and I’ll continue fighting as hard as I can to oppose privatisation and cuts, particularly to our local NHS services.

“Better train services are a priority for me, and as well as campaigning for lower fares, I’ve introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to bring the railways back into public hands, due for debate in February.

“Outside working life, I’m hoping for more time to catch up on a few TV dramas, though am anticipating significant withdrawal symptoms nowBorgen has finished (and have doubts that I can persuade my husband to watch West Wing for a third time).

“I’m full of good intentions when it comes to exercise, especially long walks on the Downs with the family dog, Alfie. Admittedly, I had the same resolution last year and made it to about April; but this time I’ve had a bit more motivation, courtesy of the local Ramblers, who’ve givenmea lovely Christmas present – a custom- made Ordnance Survey map, complete with a photo of Alfie.

No excuse, then, not to get on the rambler trail, alongside the tough 2014 political campaign trail as well.”

Jason Kitcat, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council

“It's clear that 2014 will be a challenging year when it comes to public finances.

“The period 2014-16 is the ‘crunch’ time for local government budgets. My first resolution is to keep pressing the case that cutting council budgets is the wrong thing to do.

“But assuming no U-turns fromEric Pickles and George Osborne, then it will be a time of very hard work trying to make the best of a bad situation with the limited pot of funds left to us.

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our city.

“It will be a critical year for our local economy. My next resolution is that I will work to make 2014 the year our digital infrastructure takes another leap forward. I’m also committed to making the first year of Greater Brighton a success, promoting our city region both nationally and internationally.

“My third resolution: Personally next year I’d like to do a bit more cooking, but not necessarily more eating!

Finally I’ve promised myself I will tackle some long overdue gardening, which I know the kids will love to lend a hand to.

“Happy New Year to all Argus readers.”

Peter James, Bestselling author

“For years I used to make resolutions that I never kept. Sure I would start with the best intentions and the list would look something like this: 1. Drink less 2. Quit smoking 3. Travel somewhere new 4. Try to learn something new every day. 5. Do an act of kindness every day.

“I would get to the end of January and find I was still drinking and smoking asmuch as ever, I hadn’t travelled anywhere, I’d learned nothing new, and my only act of kindness, my offer to help a blind man across Western Road, was angrily rebuffed, and ended with him shouting a torrent of verbal abuse at me and telling me to mind my own business!

“I’ve lost three very close friends in the past couple of years, Glenn Mishon, the estate agent and authors James Herbert and Russell Ash.

The more New Years that come and go, the more I realise how fragile life is and how short.

“So if I have any resolution for 2014, its just to keep on doing what I’ve always done, to try to do it a little better, and be grateful that I still can.”

Dawn Sweeney, Managing director of Newsquest Sussex

“2014 promises to be a really exciting year at The Argus.

“We have been working hard on a number of exciting projects.

“The first will be our new property supplement, launching on January 17.

“It will feature the latest news, expert opinion, guest columnists and advice and tips for buyers and sellers.

“With the news that unemployment is dropping in the city and growth increasing, I am hoping The Argus can continue to help this upwards trend into 2014 and bring even better news in our business supplement every Tuesday.

“And of course I will be hoping Oscar can get the Seagulls into the play-offs, or even better, this season.

“I know the fans were left bitterly disappointed last season, but with the latest stadium plans and training facilities the club is gearing up for Premier League life and a promotion push would be the icing on the cake.

“Finally I hope all our readers have a happy and prosperous 2014.”

Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove

“I have all of the usual resolutions like trying to eat more healthily but my main task is to bring many more of my constituents up to Parliament to highlight just how open our wonderful democracy really is.

“I meet so many people on the doorsteps already and now I want to show them Westminster.

“My task is to bring 500 residents of Hove and Portslade up to the House of Commons over the coming 12 months.”