The Labour Party is using its by-election victory last week to challenge the Greens’ control of two key council committees.
Labour candidate Emma Daniel won the Hanover and Elm Grove by-election last Thursday (11 July) for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council.
The result gave Labour 14 of the 54 seats while the Greens now have 21 seats and the Conservatives continue to hold 18 seats. The other seat is held by former Green Christina Summers who sits as an independent.
Now Labour is using its extra seat to demand two extra seats on council committees at the expense of the Greens.
The party has asked for the extra seats on the Policy and Resources Committee and the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.
On both committees the Greens have had half the seats and the casting vote of the committee chairmen.
Councillor Warren Morgan, leader of the Labour Group, said: “The residents of Hanover and Elm Grove have sent a clear signal that they have had enough of the division and lack of delivery seen from the Greens.
“Residents want a united, sensible and fair approach from a party with a proven track record of running local services.
“Labour will continue to challenge the minority Green administration on an issue by issue basis and will be looking for a far more co-operative approach from the Greens, especially when Tory government cuts are biting ever deeper into local services.”
Council leader Jason Kitcat said that he had not yet been notified of Labour’s request.
Councillor Kitcat said that the allocation of seats on committees was governed by the Local Government Act 1972.
He said that committees were divided up proportionately, with numbers rounded when necessary.
A full meeting of the council takes place on Thursday (18 July).
If the matter is not settled on Thursday it is likely to have to wait until the meeting scheduled for Thursday 24 October.
The Green leader added that the matter would be the subject of discussion with the three party leaders.
