The Conservative Party in
Brighton and Hove swept to
power a year ago, with a raft
of promises ranging from
lower council tax rises to
new transport policies.
Tory leader Mary Mears
and opposition Labour leader
Gill Mitchell, gave The
Argus their contrasting
opinions on the city's first
12 months under
Conservative control.
Mary Mears
After 20 years of Labour rule
in Brighton and Hove residents
voted for change.
We have begun this process by
listening and responding to
community concerns and sorting
out the mess Labour left behind.
The most fundamental achievement
of the past year is meeting
our commitment to provide residents
better value for money and
establishing that as a key priority.
We know council tax rises are
really hurting people. That's why
we've applied stricter controls to
the council's finances. We've set
the lowest percentage council tax
rise in the 11 years since this council
was formed - at just 3.9%.
Good use of public money is one
of our five top priorities.
advertisement
Others are ensuring fair and
consistent enforcement of laws;
growing the economy - such as the
Brighton Centre and businesses -
and protecting the environment;
reducing disadvantage and open
and effective city leadership.
These goals are becoming reality
in many ways.
Competent and transparent
governance is ensuring money is
not wasted.
As part of that we introduced a
dedicated finance committee to get
decisions out in the open.
We plan to save more than
£9 million in the next financial year
and we've found savings of £150 million
over 30 years on repairs,
planned maintenance and consultants'
fees for council housing
while maintaining standards.
On housing, over 150 empty
private-sector homes were put
back into use for people to rent. We
have reduced council house rent
arrears by £125,000.
We have also secured the highest
level of Government investment
in private-sector housing
renewal in the region - £9.6 million
over three years.
Many new measures are enhancing
the appearance and environment
of the city.
We've outlawed venues handing
out flyers without a licence.
Six new park-keepers have been
employed to patrol our parks and
gardens, to ensure they are places
people feel happy and safe.
The city has benefited from new
planting, like the restored South
Victoria Gardens near the Royal
Pavilion.
After years of going to ruin,
work will start this summer restoring
the Birdcage Bandstand on
Brighton seafront.
By listening and responding, we
opened the Jubilee Library on
Sundays for the first time and we
want to do the same with Hove Library.
We're committed to the future of
our city. That's why we're
delighted that Rod Aldridge is a
sponsor and investing in the
proposed Falmer Academy, a
project which was previously failing
under Labour.
We're taking a tough line on
antisocial behaviour. New licensing
measures will help address
problems caused by over-concentrations
of licensed premises in
certain areas.
A ground-breaking report we
commissioned on reducing
inequality will give us the knowledge
to tackle the issue properly.
It will mean we'll provide opportunities
for individuals as well as
spending on neighbourhood areas.
On transport, we're determined
to see a less congested city. We
want to make it clear we're going to
review some of Labour's policies
around transport that we inherited
and pursue new ones that can
make it better for people to
continue enjoying our city.
This year has been about getting
the fundamental things right and
focusing on those down-to-earth
things people rightly expect their
councils to do. We have seen
overall resident satisfaction with
council services go up by 13% to
61%, which is the highest it's ever been.
But we're not complacent. This
next year we will be concentrating
on our core services - getting the
basics right - and making sure we
are living in a city we can all be
justifiably proud of.
Gill Mitchell
The first year of Conservative
control of the city council has
been marked by a lack of direction
and action on key issues,
cuts to valued services and
broken promises.
After one year the new Conservative
administration has failed to
get to grips with the major challenges
facing the city on transport,
housing and city regeneration, and
they show no sign of having any
plans to address them.
Despite having voted against
park-and-ride, the Conservatives
have not put forward any major
proposals of their own to further
reduce traffic volume, instead
favouring more city centre car
parks and will almost certainly
want to do away with bus lanes to
enable more traffic to get into the
city more quickly.
Current bus services are at risk
as valuable parking income is
diverted from subsidising transport
to pay for flower beds.
The rapid transport scheme is
not being prioritised.
Setting up a sub-committee to
oversee the various major developments
in the city has been a poor
substitute for the political leadership
that should have ensured
these projects were moved forward.
Instead there is little visible sign
of progress and decisions on eyesore
sites such as Black Rock
should have now been taken.
The restoration of the bandstand
is still not under way, despite taxpayers
stumping up £500,000.
Following last year's decision by
the city's council tenants to keep
their homes in the ownership of the
council, £200 million is needed to
bring them up to Decent Homes
standards.
One year on, no formal proposals
that would have directly produced
investment have ever been presented
for decision to councillors.
Instead, large maintenance projects
totalling £2 million that would
have improved tenants' homes
were put on hold and a massive
£900,000 earmarked for desperately
needed council home repairs has
not been spent.
Despite many warm words to
council tenants and the setting up
of several focus groups, no action
to directly improve their homes
has been taken.
In addition, work to increase
recycling and reduce waste has
stalled, graffiti is not being
removed, and important areas of
the seafront, such as Madeira
Drive, are being allowed to decline
because its yearly investment
programme has been cancelled.
Even the rolling programme of
improvements to children's playgrounds
has been stopped.
Labour's New Road scheme is a
resounding success but will we
ever see the bold and ambitious
plans for more public open space in
Valley Gardens become a reality?
The Tories' complacency over
getting a better deal for the
Brighton Centre directly threatens
the city's economy and it is not
enough just to leave vital issues
like this to council officers.
The Conservative leadership
must roll up their collective sleeves
and battle for the city.
We need a sense of direction and
leadership but after a year of internal
wrangling it is still not clear the
Conservatives can even agree on
what their direction is.
Their automatic response to any
of the city's difficulties is to set up
sub-groups to look at them but
residents want action.
Under the council's new constitution
we look forward to using our
scrutiny powers to set a better
direction in terms of developing
policy and will not hesitate to call
in and question any ill-thought-through
decisions.
How do you think the city has fared under the Tories? Tell us below.
Posted by: Christine Melsom Isitfair, Hampshire on 6:35pm Mon 12 May 08
All incoming councils and Governments mention that they have to clear up the mess left by the beaten councillors. Just for once can you please say, what sort of financial situation the council was left in? Was there any money in the kitty?
Gill Mitchel seems to expect quite a lot of quick fixes from Mary Mears. They have, perhaps, 20 years of clearing up to do. Why were the council houses allowed to get into such a bad state? Why was Black Rock allowed to become such an eyesore. My feeling is that the outgoing council did leave a shambles behind them
All incoming councils and Governments mention that they have to clear up the mess left by the beaten councillors. Just for once can you please say, what sort of financial situation the council was left in? Was there any money in the kitty?
Gill Mitchel seems to expect quite a lot of quick fixes from Mary Mears. They have, perhaps, 20 years of clearing up to do. Why were the council houses allowed to get into such a bad state? Why was Black Rock allowed to become such an eyesore. My feeling is that the outgoing council did leave a shambles behind them
I think the Tories have done an outstanding job the last 12months..i have seen an improvement in the quality of the cleanliness of the street in which i live after speaking to my local councillor...they are dealing with the issues...my local residents association complained about anti social behaviour to our new councillors and the Police visited us 2 days later...our previous Labour councillor had an air of well isn't bohemian all these odd characters...yes i love the cosmopolitan look but we need a council who will deal with the more meaningful issues our city holds..I for one am pleased I switched my vote to Conservative..and will watch Boris in London..well done Mary great to see an old Brighton family member at the helm.
I think the Tories have done an outstanding job the last 12months..i have seen an improvement in the quality of the cleanliness of the street in which i live after speaking to my local councillor...they are dealing with the issues...my local residents association complained about anti social behaviour to our new councillors and the Police visited us 2 days later...our previous Labour councillor had an air of well isn't bohemian all these odd characters...yes i love the cosmopolitan look but we need a council who will deal with the more meaningful issues our city holds..I for one am pleased I switched my vote to Conservative..and will watch Boris in London..well done Mary great to see an old Brighton family member at the helm.
Posted by: Mrs Pat Smith, Woodingdean, Brighton on 9:12am Tue 13 May 08
Commonsense politics from a commonsense councillor. You have the welfare of all B&H City dwellers at heart and you speak from a lifetime's experience of the needs of ordinary people. Well done Mary Mears - the residents and the business community of this City will back you all the way.
Commonsense politics from a commonsense councillor. You have the welfare of all B&H City dwellers at heart and you speak from a lifetime's experience of the needs of ordinary people. Well done Mary Mears - the residents and the business community of this City will back you all the way.
Posted by: Alison Smith, Brighton on 10:46am Tue 13 May 08
Let's hope the voters in Brighton & Hove do the sensible thing at the General Election too. Vote Tory & elect Kirby, Bull & Weatherly to represent the city at a national level. Then perhaps the City Council will get a fairer share of Government Grants that the South of England does not currently get.
Let's hope the voters in Brighton & Hove do the sensible thing at the General Election too. Vote Tory & elect Kirby, Bull & Weatherly to represent the city at a national level. Then perhaps the City Council will get a fairer share of Government Grants that the South of England does not currently get.
Posted by: Councillor Warren Morgan, Labour, East Brighton on 11:23am Tue 13 May 08
Good to see comments from Tory members cheering their side on here, but the fact remains that the Conservatives have failed to deliver on important projects like the Brighton Centre, failed to deliver on their election promises on council tax, and are only making savings on housing by cutting back on repairs which tenants desperately need.
The "successes" Councillor Mears trumpets are all things started under Labour: Sunday opening for the Library, the bandstand renovation (lottery funded by Labour, taxpayer funded under the Tories), the Academy and the flyer controls.
The Conservatives are hopelessly divided and their failings as an administration will be exposed over the coming months.
Good to see comments from Tory members cheering their side on here, but the fact remains that the Conservatives have failed to deliver on important projects like the Brighton Centre, failed to deliver on their election promises on council tax, and are only making savings on housing by cutting back on repairs which tenants desperately need.
The "successes" Councillor Mears trumpets are all things started under Labour: Sunday opening for the Library, the bandstand renovation (lottery funded by Labour, taxpayer funded under the Tories), the Academy and the flyer controls.
The Conservatives are hopelessly divided and their failings as an administration will be exposed over the coming months.
Posted by: whitehawk tory, Brighton on 12:16pm Tue 13 May 08
What a load of rubbish Warren Morgan spouts! Labour had their chance in Brighton - 20 years of it and look at the mess they made. Council tax more than doubled in ten years and now the Labour Government have dithered on the funding for the Brighton Centre.
Let's not forget that the Labour Party in Brighton when kicked out of office for not listening to the tenants. At least Mary Mears has found £150 million to spend on repairs - much more than Labour could manage. And least she hasn't wasted £1m of tax payers money persuading ternants to vote for selling off their housing.
Shame on you Labour, we tenants won't forget it ever.
The Conservatives locally are doing a great job and will do if even better when this useless government and useless Gordon Brown are replaced.
It won't be soon now!
What a load of rubbish Warren Morgan spouts! Labour had their chance in Brighton - 20 years of it and look at the mess they made. Council tax more than doubled in ten years and now the Labour Government have dithered on the funding for the Brighton Centre.
Let's not forget that the Labour Party in Brighton when kicked out of office for not listening to the tenants. At least Mary Mears has found £150 million to spend on repairs - much more than Labour could manage. And least she hasn't wasted £1m of tax payers money persuading ternants to vote for selling off their housing.
Shame on you Labour, we tenants won't forget it ever.
The Conservatives locally are doing a great job and will do if even better when this useless government and useless Gordon Brown are replaced.
Posted by: Councillor Warren Morgan, East Brighton on 11:45pm Tue 13 May 08
So the £1m not spent last year on housing repairs, and the £1.5m held back in this year's Tory budget has had no effect? That's not what tenants in Whitehawk told me last night where a ninth floor window fell out.
Don't believe the re-write of history by Tory supporters on council stock transfer - Mary Mears picture was on every council document put out supporting a move to an independent housing association and they backed it right until the last minute.
Time for anonymous Tory posters to put their name where their spin is I think.
So the £1m not spent last year on housing repairs, and the £1.5m held back in this year's Tory budget has had no effect? That's not what tenants in Whitehawk told me last night where a ninth floor window fell out.
Don't believe the re-write of history by Tory supporters on council stock transfer - Mary Mears picture was on every council document put out supporting a move to an independent housing association and they backed it right until the last minute.
Time for anonymous Tory posters to put their name where their spin is I think.
Well I`d like to see that your lying Labour lot did any better. You`ve caused more problems in this city than the tories ever did. I for one would like to see a lot of the so called traffic calming measures ripped out, traffic lights removed and more council housing built. I`d also like to see said council housing going to ethnic British people, not spongers as currently, plus you, Morgan, yes you, along with that Mitchell woman removed from office. Such snivelling, red propagandists the pair of you. I will never, never vote Labour. Ever. Understand?
Well I`d like to see that your lying Labour lot did any better. You`ve caused more problems in this city than the tories ever did. I for one would like to see a lot of the so called traffic calming measures ripped out, traffic lights removed and more council housing built. I`d also like to see said council housing going to ethnic British people, not spongers as currently, plus you, Morgan, yes you, along with that Mitchell woman removed from office. Such snivelling, red propagandists the pair of you. I will never, never vote Labour. Ever. Understand?
Well I`d like to see that your lying Labour lot did any better. You`ve caused more problems in this city than the tories ever did. I for one would like to see a lot of the so called traffic calming measures ripped out, traffic lights removed and more council housing built. I`d also like to see said council housing going to ethnic British people, not spongers as currently, plus you, Morgan, yes you, along with that Mitchell woman removed from office. Such snivelling, red propagandists the pair of you. I will never, never vote Labour. Ever. Understand?
Well I`d like to see that your lying Labour lot did any better. You`ve caused more problems in this city than the tories ever did. I for one would like to see a lot of the so called traffic calming measures ripped out, traffic lights removed and more council housing built. I`d also like to see said council housing going to ethnic British people, not spongers as currently, plus you, Morgan, yes you, along with that Mitchell woman removed from office. Such snivelling, red propagandists the pair of you. I will never, never vote Labour. Ever. Understand?
Posted by: Tony Davenport, Brighton on 10:04pm Sun 18 May 08
"Time for anonymous Tory posters to put their name where their spin is I think" says Councillor Warren Morgan.
Wow. Perhaps he should be giving a stern telling off to his Labour cronies, and indeed Labour colleagues, who have hidden behind anonymous usernames to post attacks.
Want names? Here are two to start with: Councillor Craig Turton and Ex-Councillor Simon Battle. Both have used fake names on the Argus forums. So Warren, you were saying?
"Time for anonymous Tory posters to put their name where their spin is I think" says Councillor Warren Morgan.
Wow. Perhaps he should be giving a stern telling off to his Labour cronies, and indeed Labour colleagues, who have hidden behind anonymous usernames to post attacks.
Want names? Here are two to start with: Councillor Craig Turton and Ex-Councillor Simon Battle. Both have used fake names on the Argus forums. So Warren, you were saying?
Posted by: Tony Davenport, Brighton on 10:13pm Sun 18 May 08
Oh this is great ...
Not 5 minutes after posting my previous comments, I find this:
http://www.theargus.
co.uk/news/letters/a
rgusletters/display.
var.2274377.0.waitin
g_for_promises_of_co
uncil_to_be_made_goo
d.php
Written by Elisabeth Telcs AKA ........ Mrs. Warren Morgan!
At least it's not a fake username I suppose!
Oh this is great ...
Not 5 minutes after posting my previous comments, I find this:
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
