Brighton and Hove’s Green councillors set out 98 achievements in mid-term report

The Green Party’s national conference started in Brighton today (Friday 13 September) with the local leadership publishing a mid-term report detailing 98 achievements since being elected.

Jason Kitcat, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It’s not possible to list everything here.

“But this report shows that we’ve protected services and introduced many new initiatives to benefit the city.

“We’ve already delivered over half of our manifesto commitments.”

The report by the Green group of councillors in Brighton and Hove is called Achievement and challenge: making a difference in two years.

Supporters gave out copies of the report at the party conference at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

The Brighton and Hove Green Party said: “It highlights major and smaller-scale achievements across the full breadth of local government in jobs and the economy, transport, housing, education, social care, local democracy and, of course, the environment and sustainability, among other areas.

“Major achievements include the introduction of the Living Wage in the council and its promotion to private sector employers so that more workers in the city enjoy a liveable wage which is above the minimum wage level.

“In education the best ever GCSE pass rates were achieved this year at a time when national rates are falling.

“Meanwhile key recreational green spaces and transport improvements have received investment and a facelift, with much of the funding coming from external grants, saving taxpayers money. “Examples include the state-of-the-art Old Shoreham Road cycle lane, the Seven Dials roundabout improvement project, the Lewes Road streetscape works and the refurbishment of the historic Level park.”

Councillor Kitcat said: “This is perhaps the toughest time in modern history for English local councils.

“Despite huge government-imposed budget cuts of around 40 per cent over four years, which threaten to devastate vital services, we’ve achieved much to make this city a better place for everyone who lives and works here.

“While in this climate we won’t get everything right all the time, we have protected many of the poorest and most in need people in our city from the brunt of the coalition’s welfare changes.

“That’s despite being one of the hardest-hit councils in England for town hall budget cuts.

“We are indebted to the hard work of all our staff who, in the face of huge budget cuts of around 40 per cent over the four-year term imposed by the coalition, have demonstrated what is possible with the leadership and determination of everyone involved.

“Sadly the austerity consensus of the main parties at Westminster is set to continue with further town hall cuts to 2020, whichever main party is in power.

“Both Cameron and Miliband have refused to end the tightening stranglehold on town hall budgets.

“We urge both Conservatives and Labour to rethink their policies for local communities.”