It’s almost time to wave goodbye to 2023 and say hello to 2024, writes Councillor Steve Davis. I’ve had it suggested that a good New Year’s resolution for me would be to be less angered by things I can’t change. I can’t see that happening. All those suggestions do is bring to mind the quote: If you’re not angry, you are not paying attention. And let’s be honest, there has been a lot to be angry about in 2023.

So, apologies to Argus readers, but for one last time this year I’m going to get a few things off my chest while enjoying the festive season and trying to look forward to 2024 with more optimism than 2023 allowed us.

The Conservative government continues to serve up scandal after scandal. From Partygate and the breaching of Covid restrictions by the very people who were imposing them on the British people and the party’s fondness for dishing out favours to friends who pocketed millions from dodgy PPE contracts, to Liz Truss tanking the economy and Rishi Sunak and his cabinet tanking the UK’s worldwide reputation, ordinary people have been left paying the price of broken leadership.

After 13 years of botched government, the last thing residents in Brighton and Hove need are more bad political decisions taken closer to home. But little over six months since Labour was elected to run the city after promising local people the moon on a stick despite knowing there was no money to pay for their election promises, there’s been a predictable lack of good news.

Two councillors have been expelled from the Labour group for allegations they live in Leicester. There’s a by-election in South Portslade, the same ward where Labour seems convinced of the need to close the local school despite a fierce campaign from residents. In the city centre, BrightStart nursery is slated for closure, as is St Bartholomew’s School; again, residents are furious, particularly given a Labour manifesto pledge to “… keep schools open”.

And it doesn’t stop there. Strike action from adult social care workers – the first of its kind in Brighton and Hove – has now been ongoing for almost six weeks, with Labour no closer to a resolution despite the immense value of adult social care workers to the health, wellbeing and safety of our vulnerable adult population. In fact, far from Labour’s claims of being a listening council, flyers produced by the Unison trade union locally simply ask: “Where’s Labour?” Noticeably absent from the fight to protect their jobs and services is the unfortunate answer.

Where Labour can be challenged by opposition councillors or local groups, they are taking steps to close that opposition down. Last week a public deputation from multi-faith groups calling for Labour to make clear their position on a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza was inexcusably rejected from the full council agenda. Labour has also reduced the number of proposals any group of councillors can vote on during a council meeting. Fundamental aspects of local democracy are being chipped away.

Labour also continues to reject calls to publish a 2019 report detailing the actions Labour councillors took to avert a strike by Cityclean waste and recycling workers over Pride. A more recent report into the issues at Cityclean found political interference from councillors contributed to the toxic culture of bullying at the depot. The city deserves answers and accountability and we will keep pushing for them, however inconvenient the administration may find it.

Plans to make cuts to public services to balance a huge budget deficit are still being kept secret; they won’t be shared until February, just a few weeks before a final decision on the proposals will be made. We’ll scrutinise them in the time we have available, but holding budget discussions behind closed doors is anti-democratic and hampers the opportunities communities have to put forward alternative proposals or campaign against cuts to vital services. There is no monopoly on good ideas.

So yes, 2023 is almost over. And I can’t say I’m going to look back too fondly on it in years to come. I hope for a better 2024. As Greens we will continue to encourage Labour to work collaboratively with all those in the city who want to see a better future, are opposed to cuts and want local democracy to thrive.

There is still time to undo some of the worst of 2023. Labour councillors can extend the consultation on the closure of schools. They can share their budget plans. They can make clear the failings that led to a poor bin collection service for residents and a toxic bullying culture. That would really help everyone in the city welcome in 2024 with optimism.

Cllr Steve Davis is the leader of the Greens on Brighton and Hove City Council