THE voters in Brighton and Hove have had their say and have seen the election of a Green-led Brighton and Hove City Council for the next four years.

They have told us what they would do before the election, if elected, and now they have the opportunity to put their manifesto into practice (The Argus, May 9).

We have to be confident in a Green-led council as voters have given them more seats on the council than the other parties managed.

I am delighted that politicians from all political parties have been in discussions on how to move forward.

I think the Greens, having never been in this position before, will need help and advice, from the other parties. I hope, for the benefit of the city, all parties will be willing to help.

Despite not having been in this position before, I think the Greens should be given a fair chance.

It is encouraging to see that Labour have said they will support the Greens when they bring forward sensible proposals in the best interests of the city.

It is only right that the three parties – Green, Conservative and Labour – work together.

Running the city for the next four years will be an exciting challenge for the Greens.

They now have the chance to implement their manifesto and the opportunity to be-come a major force in local democracy.

Let’s wish them all well for a successfully run council.

Steve Fuller, Rowan Avenue, Hove

I WONDER what The Argus found “controversial” about the new Green ruling group’s proposal to review Brighton and Hove City Council’s budget?

The use of this word on the front page on May 10 hardly squares with your fair-minded leading article about it in the same edition.

A couple of months ago, the Greens put through a number of amendments to the Tories’ draft budget but then (unlike Labour) voted against the amended budget, since it still contained too many cuts that they opposed.

It would have been a slap in the face for the thousands of people who voted for Green policies if they were now to meekly implement a budget based on Tory plans.

Surely, if anything is controversial, it is the requirement of a newly-elected council to maintain a budget framework set by opponents defeated at the ballot box.

A newly-elected government can freely alter its predecessor’s budget. Democracy requires that a new council should have that right too.

Thomas Lines, St Peter’s Place, Brighton

THE sum of £760 million seems like a lot of money on April 6, but doesn’t look quite so much by October 6.

Whatever ideals a party may have, political agendas are still the art of the possible and dictated by funding.

The Greens have inherited a council which has, over the past four years, been brought from the verge of bankruptcy to being on a relatively sound financial footing without making front-line provision cuts.

Overall, council debt was reduced by £50 million, giving £2 million in year-on-year savings in interest alone.

The reserves are at a higher level than at the start of the last administration and intelligent commissioning has given every penny greater purchasing power.

Not a bad example for the new administration to follow.

Successful actions and results are the key, not party politics.

Of course the Green Party should review the city’s budget – after all, it is their duty to make it work.

The Labour Party’s recommendations, with their track record both locally and nationally, would be a valuable lesson in how not to proceed.

Idealism in opposition is one thing – having to deliver it as the administration is quite another.

The Greens have some very able people – UFOs notwithstanding – and want to do the best for our city.

It’s early days and they will learn. It’s time for us to dump the politics and get behind them.

John Melson, Lavender Street, Brighton

THE ARGUS should be congratulated on serving its readers by maintaining a flow of information on the interesting times we are currently experiencing in local politics.

However, to describe the Green Party as having “swept to power” in this month’s elections (May 18) is a bit of an exaggeration: with 23 seats – most of them taken by skilful targeting of Labour councillors – they are a minority administration.

As Councillor Warren Morgan pointed out in Letters (May 18), the Green Party polled a similar number of votes as Labour, which is hardly an overwhelming endorsement of their appeal to the electorate.

I’m sure we’ll wish Bill Randall, leader of the Green Party, well in his endeavours to persuade Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles – a hard-nosed old-fashioned Tory public services cutter – to show sympathy to our city.

But the minister might just point out that this is the party that voted against a budget for the city, as amended by Labour, that reinstated many of the proposed old Tory administration’s cuts, including the Hove cycle lane that they had campaigned for.

Adam Trimingham had something to say on this (Comment, May 18): “It’s easy to shout from the sidelines, but quite another matter to take unpopular decisions when in power.”

Former Labour voters who were seduced by the Green Party (who have never made anything, and have thus so far made no mistakes) will certainly be watching developments with interest.

Peter Carver, Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton