The Green Party published its local elections manifesto – entitled Rejuvenating Our City – this morning (Thursday 26 March). Most of the party’s councillors and candidates gathered at Moshimo – the Japanese restaurant opposite Brighton Town Hall – where they were offered green tea.
Councillor Sue Shanks said: “We’re very proud of our record (but) we’re not going to rest on our laurels.”
And Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “We need to fight for another four years. We are asking our citizens to cone with us on our journey and vote Green again at the elections on (Thursday) 7 May.”
Key manifesto pledges include
- build 500 social rented homes and a new generation of council homes with genuinely affordable rents
- open a new secondary school and come up with a new catchment area plan for fair admissions
- extend the cycle lane network, complete the Valley Gardens revamp and bid for funds to renew more of the seafront arches
- improve air quality and road safety by making walking and cycling safer
- champion equality, fairness and the rights of the poor and marginalised
- improve libraries and leisure facilities
- continue to improve energy efficiency in our city’s buildings to fight fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions
Councillor Mac Cafferty said: “What city have you been to that’s opened libraries not closed them!”
The party’s manifesto said: “In 2011 Brighton and Hove made history by electing the UK’s first Green-led council. Since then the coalition government has slashed our city’s budget by £80 million – the second-biggest reduction in the south east.
“Despite this, unlike many other councils, we have been able to keep all our services open and attract £86 million of external funding to improve and rejuvenate our city.”
He praised two of his fellow councillors – council leader Jason Kitcat and economic development chairman Geoffrey Bowden – for helping to bring in the external funding.
Since the manifesto was printed a further £10 million has been awarded – £9 million for seafront repairs and £1.2 million for the Boris bikes hire scheme.
The party spoke up for its record in office and said that it wanted voters to keep faith with its approach. The manifesto said: “Brighton and Hove is in the midst of a transformation. Major regeneration projects such as the Open Market and the award-winning Level are complete with others under way.
“The local economy is outperforming the rest of the country. We are one of the top four UK cities for business start-ups. We have seen 9,000 jobs created and we’re the country’s most popular seaside resort.”
Tom Druitt, chairman of the Brighton and Hove Green Party, said: “Our manifesto has been a huge democratic exercise.” He said that it had involved workshops and full party meetings open to all members.
Mr Druitt, who is standing in Regency ward for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “We take care of our city. We take care of our environment. We take care of our people.”
He said that the manifesto contained 216 pledges, including the completion of policies and projects that were already under way. And he added: “It also reflects a long-term plan. Much has been completed but there is so much more to do.”
The greens are a joke,hiking parking charges building cycle lanes everywhere.
LEWES road is a joke,most people didn’t want the cycle or bus lane but the greens went ahead anyway so much for democracy.
Make sure you read the new 40 page manifesto to see what the greens want to impose on us over the next 4 years.
Don’t forget to cross check the manifesto with the green policy web site at http://policy.greenparty.org.uk to compare what they are saying they are going to do with why they want to do it and what their real objectives are.
Remember, like last time, that. they took being the largest party convinced them that they had carte blanched to impose ALL their policies on the city.
that *is* how democracy works, Gerald. Do keep up.
Precisely – and that is why it is really important to see what we will be getting if we let these lunatics lead the council for a second term!
The high level sales pitch looks attractive, but when you let a group of clueless, arrogant, self-rigtheous, incompetent, irresponsible, ideological activists with an appalling track record of implementing policies loose on your city you need to take special care of what they really want to do.
I think its a case of ‘buyer be aware’ and to be afraid, very afraid, of what plans they have for the next 4 years. After all, most of the more ‘liberal’ councillors have gone now and we have a mainly new group of unknown leader-less activists getting involved.
Poor old Gerald, he doesn’t understand that a minority administration cannot “impose” anything and has to work with other parties to run the council.
Gerald always fails to mention, for example, that the conservative party he has supported for many years has been supporting Green initiatives such as Valley Gardens, i360 etc. labour too have supported schemes such as the Lewes Rd.
Looks like it is UKIP for you Gerald.
Nice try @Napoleon – just guess it goes to show how desperate the greens are having to work with the conservatives.
But don’t you have overall control on the transport committee – especially as the chairman (dozey Davey) has the casting vote?
Perhaps you should have formed an alliance with another party – oh no – you are all too arrogantly convinced of your superior infallibility for that 🙂
Not too worried who leads next time – as long as it is not the lunatic greens.
Well, I can bet that there will be no city wide ban on private cars, despite constantly being told otherwise by some contibutor’s to this and the Argus website.
But isn’t that the overall objective of the green party policy that you are trying to impose on the city?