Earlier this month, the front page of The Argus had a picture of Brighton City councillor Chris Morley, dressed to kill, helping our 140 council street cleaners.

He reminded me of a kindly womble, but never mind. He was setting an example and telling us what a good job our cleaners were doing.

A few pages further into the paper, Councillor Ken Bodfish was disporting himself with Stella Richardson, of Brighton and Hove in Bloom, in a boat on a traffic island in the Old Steine. He didn't look much of a sailor, he was standing on the gunwhale, but he, too, was doing his duty. He was supporting the Brighton and Hove In Bloom competition and the city's bid to become European City of Culture.

On the same day, there was a letter to The Argus saying the general appearance of Brighton and Hove had deteriorated, especially along the seafront gardens and the Old Steine.

I have sympathy for our gardeners and cleaners. We are a nation of litter-bugs. What happened to The Keep Britain Tidy campaign?

A few weeks ago, we took our grandchildren to Stanmer Park. We parked opposite the old house, still marvellous but empty and neglected for so many years. We walked into the garden behind the house. It looked like a third world park.

The Orangery is in ruins, the Tropical House empty, litter everywhere. Who is to blame?

Can Brighton and Hove be serious in its endeavour to become a City of Culture when it neglects one of its most precious assets?

Irang the city council. I was told the upkeep of Brighton's parks and gardens had been outsourced to Ecovert but Hove gardens were still maintained by council employees. "Can you tell Ecovert to repair the Orangery?" I asked. "I'm afraid that's not part of their contract," was the reply. "What about the Tropical House?"

"Ecovert has the responsibility of maintaining the glass house but we can't tell them what to grow." Why ever not, I thought and then remembered the litter. "I haven't seen any park keepers," I said. "We don't have park keepers any more,"

was the sad reply.

I don't know if all this is the fault of the council or whether Ecovert is cutting corners.

Ecovert employs many ex-council staff and may give good value for money but if things carry on in this way then it is going to take millions to put matters right.

Some of you may say that this is more to do with politics than business. I don't agree - the city council runs a very big business and has a duty to look after our assets.