This week’s headlines from across the city from Tim Ridgway’s

One of the most improving secondary schools in the country – Hove Park – could be on the verge of becoming an academy. Derek Trimmer, headteacher at the school in Nevill Road, claimed the proposal is one option it was considering as it looked to improve the school further.

If it became an academy, school bosses would be freed from local authority control and have more independence over finances and what it taught.

Since the news was revealed exclusively on www.thelatest.co.uk last week, unions have said they would consider a city-wide strike to halt the plans.

With the city council’s Green administration also being against academies in principle, this one is set to run and run.

Outsourcing
Outsourcing Firms have got a bad reputation thanks to a succession of government failures over large IT contracts.

So it is quiet scepticism that greets news that Capita will spend three months helping health and social care chiefs work out how to provide better care for frail people in Brighton and Hove.

The aims include cutting the number of drug addicts, mental health patients and homeless people turning up at accident and emergency (A&E) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

They also include cutting the number of readmissions of frail people and reducing the level of bed-blocking.

Details of the three-month £38,000 contract were given at the Brighton and Hove City Council adult care and health committee.

The i360 saga rumbles on
A fortnight ago, developer Marks Barfield behind the seafront tower thought they had reached the end of a long road when Brighton and Hove City Council agreed to a funding deal.

But now Valerie Paynter, of campaigning group Save Hove, has started a online petition calling on the Public Works Loan Board – the government body that will hand over £36 million – to refuse the council’s request for funding.

In just a few days, it has received more than 750 signatures.

With Ms Paynter leading the fight against the failed Gehry towers for the King Alfred site in Hove, Marks Barfield must be hoping that this is not the start of a long and protracted public campaign against the scheme.

Parking plans
Plans to make parking free on Sundays throughout Brighton and Hove will be discussed in the council chamber – thanks to a forgotten political party.

Numbers of Liberal Democrat members in Brighton and Hove have fallen dramatically in recent years.

But one of those left – Jeremy Gale – has led a campaign to scrap the tariffs in Brighton and Hove City Council-owned car parks and on street bays on Sundays.

After months of campaigning, the petition now has more than 1,250 signatures – meaning it triggers a debate at a meeting of all 54 councillors on 27 March at Hove Town Hall.

The Lib Dems currently have no representation on the local authority so it will be up to Green, Conservative and Labour councillors, as well as the one independent member, to decide if any action is taken.

Eco shed
Ever thought of getting out into the great outdoors to not only help yourself but others?
Well, the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden is looking for groups of between ten and 12 people to help build the walls of its new eco shed.

It will be used as a base for the group to continue its work in helping vulnerable adults and children learn skills which will help them into employment.The previous building was burnt down by arsonists.
For more details email hello@seedybusiness.org or call 07988 837951.