Five candidates are standing in a by-election in Queen’s Park ward for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) next Thursday (24 September).
The seat became vacant when former Labour councillor Milla Gauge resigned.
The five candidates are Stefan Speckesser (Conservative), Mark Strong (Green), Steve Gladwin (Labour), Rüdiger Dikty-Daudiyan (Liberal Democrat) and John Shepherd (Reform UK).
Each candidate has answered questions about local issues and why electors should vote for them.
Here are the responses from Liberal Democrat Rüdiger Dikty-Daudiyan, 46, a freelance translator and small business owner.
Why do you want to be a councillor?
I would like to become a councillor because I enjoy making a difference in and for my local community.
As a strong advocate for community engagement, I would like to make sure residents have a voice in local decision-making.
I’m dedicated to improving local services like public transport, recycling and access to libraries and other public resources.
Finally, I believe in the importance of transparency and accountability.
As a councillor, I would work to build trust between the council and the community and contribute to a better future for residents.
Why do you want to stand in this ward?
I live and work in this ward and I walk my dog in Queen’s Park.
It would be an honour to represent this vibrant and diverse community and play my role to improve local issues that matter to Queen’s Park residents.
For instance, Brighton and Hove’s appalling record on bin collections and the shoddy way in which recent road and street repairs have been carried out are not a good look for a city that takes pride in being modern and eco-friendly.
What are the key issues specific to this ward?
Like in the rest of Brighton and Hove, Queen’s Park ward is grappling with a housing and cost of living crisis.
Residents, in particular families and young people, are struggling to find affordable housing.
Anti-social behaviour, including vandalism and substance abuse, is continuously getting worse and having an impact on people’s quality of life.
Speeding vehicles are a menace and urgent traffic calming measures are needed, especially in Queen’s Park Road and Freshfield Road.
We need to offer real support to people to ensure these issues are dealt with urgently.
Falling birth rates are affecting pupil numbers in primary and secondary schools. How should this issue be managed?
We are opposed to school closures, wherever possible, preferring to reduce PANs (published admission numbers) instead.
Reducing the maximum number of pupils a school must admit into a relevant age group is an effective strategy to manage falling student populations and budget pressures.
The increased space in our schools can then be used to the advantage of pupils, with more space available for physical activity, music making and other extra-curricular activities.
There are opportunities for schools to be places for lifelong learning.
Adult education, early years, apprenticeship training, increased SEND facilities can all be incorporated creatively with revenue increased by maximising commercial opportunities as well.
Temporary and emergency housing is a huge cost to the council. What measures should be taken to reduce this cost?
The need for more affordable housing in our city is agreed across party political boundaries.
Lib Dem local councils have a good record in this area. Recent administrations in Brighton and Hove have tried various schemes including buying property from the private sector and homes previously sold under the right-to-buy.
We agree that putting people in need of temporary accommodation in the private rented sector is the worst option.
Increasing the supply of truly affordable housing is the priority but can we also limit demand? We would support a review of the eligibility criteria to make sure that these desperately needed homes are going to the right people.
How would you improve and maintain roads in the ward?
We would implement strict KPIs (key performance indicators) partnered with thorough oversight and management of contractors to ensure compliance with these.
Use the ‘Netherlands techniques’ to copy their seal, preserve and resurface techniques to tackle roads at the right time to avoid potholes forming.
Use porous asphalt to allow the water to drain through, preventing the freeze/thaw cycle that causes most potholes.
Invest in the purchase of two machines which go out every day to assigned areas to fix roads, fill potholes and inspect roads for damage.
Create an easy app for residents to report potholes, sinkholes and other aspects of dangerous roads, with updates on progress and next steps.
Given the reasons for the by-election, what steps will you take to ensure the council complies with its legal obligations to protect children including those who may be confused about their gender?
The Liberal Democrats always uphold legal obligations, though the new EHRC Code of Practice has regrettably created ambiguity rather than certainty.
While we cannot comment on the specific circumstances surrounding this by-election, our priority is clear: protecting children is imperative.
Children questioning their gender identity deserve utmost sensitivity, understanding, and comprehensive support.
To guarantee this, we will enforce robust scrutiny of the council, ensuring it fully complies with its safeguarding duties and provides the vital help these young people need.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. Valid photographic ID is required to vote.
I struggle with Libdems generally…I like the things they say, but it tends to be things the current administration is already doing, or things that are going to happen regardless. It’s tricky to point to what they actually stand for, ever since Nick Clegg.
Good to see the references to transparency and accountability – and local voices being heard. I hope if he wins the seat he can provide that for the Ward. The local Labour administration has sometimes been in such a rush to get things done that they seem to have forgotten the importance of meaningful engagement with communities and making sure there are not unintended consequences of their policies. For example, the recent debate on Wellington House where the decision appears to have effectively been taken before the engagement.
I know a lack of transparency and openness was also raised as an issue that another Labour councillor, Birgit Miller, who resigned and is now sitting as an independent.
From what Cllr. Miller disclosed on Latest TV, it sounded very much like there was a legal process being undertaken, which would have been wholy inappropriate for her to intervene with, regardless of political ties or position.
Maybe we watched a different interview? From the one I watched Cllr Miller was trying to raise an issue in relation to a temporary resident of Ward and the quality of their housing. Leader of Council tried to instruct her that she should not be raising the issue.
It also clearly is not just Cllr Miller who is raising issues about transparency and openness. Opposition councillors have highlighted that they are having issues accessing information. Compliance with freedom of information act requests is down to 72% (it is supposed to be 90%+) and the information commissioners office have been issuing more decision notices over the last few months. The team itself has highlighted that it has come under pressure to agree exemptions.
However, the performance report that was due highlight the issues got bumped from the Cabinet today and has now been delayed until December. If you like I can give some specific examples of where I think the council have not been as open as they should have been?
Oh no, that interview on Latest TV was wildly inappropriate. You can’t be naming residents and listing their health conditions in a public space. Cllr. Miller would have be read into that issue by legal, so she’s actively disclosed information she shouldn’t have. It also highlights it was inappropriate for her to try to get involved with that particular case. I would not be surprised if that particular individual had been known to officers for a long time, honestly, sticking her nose intrepidly like that probably did more harm than anything to that vulnerable individual.
Stepping back and letting process happen is one of the hardest things in safeguarding, loads of people fall afoul of professional boundaries and limitations. I suspect if I learnt the whole history of that particular individual, it would only solidify my opinion that Sankey, having a strong background in these kind of topics, probably gave Miller good advice. Advocating sometimes means exercising control.
There’s a lot of FOIs that go through that are clearly never going to pass exemptions, however, when the new performance report comes out, I promise to approach it with an open mind, and we can have a good discussion on what it means, deal?
The Lib-Dems were not innocent bystanders whilst this country was torn asunder and more people placed in poverty: they were active participants.