Brighton and Hove City Council’s Conservative leadership was tonight forced to concede dramatic changes to its masterplan for the city.
As reported in The Argus this morning, Labour, Green and Lib Dem councillors united for the first time to force through a string of changes to the Core Strategy – the blueprint directing development, transport and the economy until 2026.
The electorate has never voted for a rainbow coalition. What you are doing is irresponsible and disrespectful to the residents of this city.”
Mary Mears
The electorate has never voted for a rainbow coalition. What you are doing is irresponsible and disrespectful to the residents of this city.”
Mary Mears
Key amendments include:
• a commitment to reducing car use and pollution in the city
• the housing target for Brighton Marina and the gasworks shifted to 2,000
• work to transform Valley Gardens into a large park.
During a marathon seven-hour meeting at Brighton Town Hall, punctuated by bitter exchanges between councillors, the combined opposition parties forced through dozens of changes transforming the Tory city vision into their own.
Around 50 of the 90 amendments were eventually agreed by the Conservatives, after a 90 minute adjournment while the party leaders brokered last minute consensus, only for the party to abstain from the final overall vote on the document – effectively disowning a plan they had spent two years working on.
The remaining 40 changes were forced through by the combined opposition, who have held the ability to outvote the Conservatives by 28 to 26 since a Green by-election win in July.
Conservative leader Mary Mears had opened the debate by criticising the actions of the opposition.
Coun Mears said: “We were elected in May 2007 with a mandate to run this city. We should be allowed to get on and deliver the policies which we stood on and which a large part of the electorate. The electorate has never voted for a rainbow coalition.
“What you are doing is irresponsible and disrespectful to the residents of this city.”
She was backed by Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment and transport, who said the amendments could have “come out of Moscow” because of the way they had routinely removed the word “choice” from the masterplan.
He attacked the opposition’s attempt to encourage people not to use cars, referred to as “modal shift”, rather than the Tory policy of “modal choice”, intended to let people choose.
During the debate rival councillors accused the Conservatives of allowing the city to get into a malaise and burying their heads in the sand over issues of climate change.
After the meeting councillor Bill Randall, the Green Party convenor, said: “This is a significant moment. There are some important issues which have now gone into the core strategy, particularly over transport.”
Labour leader Gill Mitchell added: “It was great to see opposition parties unite on this occasion to put politics aside and just get the job done.”
What Brighton's blogs are saying
Green councillor Jason Kitcat's take on last night's meeting.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel