Newspaper of the Brighton & Hove Green Party - Spring 2008 - 33rd Edition www.brightonandhovegreenparty,org.uk In this issue: Democracy in danger: how changes to local government may damage SHAME ON YOU! decision-making for ever page 2 Omar freed: Cllr Keith Taylor meets Greens share residents’ anger and dismay at post office closures the woman behind the Free Omar Campaign page 3 Greens are furious at the way in which under threat. have fatally undermined any such Do we need supermarkets? page 4 Brighton and Hove residents have Both Celia Barlow and David Lepper campaign at the last minute, and will been let down by their elected politi- promised that they would campaign have to live with the fact that they Brighton rock - Bill Randall meets cians. At the parliamentary vote on for the threatened post offices to be could have chosen to save these post Jack Hazelgrove page 5 post offices on 19th March, two of our kept open. It's useless for them to offices, but chose not to. When MPs local Labour MPs - Celia Barlow and pledge to campaign locally and then like David Lepper and Celia Barlow say David Lepper - voted with the go on to doom every other post office one thing locally while voting for Government in support of the national in the country. exactly the opposite at Westminster, Ticket to Ride post office closure programme - flying Caroline Lucas MEP, who will be do they think we won't notice their Do as I say, not do as I do seems to directly in the face of their promises standing for Brighton Pavilion at the hypocrisy?” be the message from the City Council's to campaign to keep open five post next General Election, said, “By voting Brighton and Hove Green Party have Tories. offices in Brighton and Hove that are in favour of closure nationally, they campaigned against post office clo- At last May's council elections the sures from the outset, working closely Tories invited voters to 'Vote Blue, Go with local sub-postmasters to organise Green', but after one year in power, petitions, which were signed by thou- what is the truth? sands of people, and galvanise action. When the Tories set their first The Greens were also the only local Council budget, Greens proposed a party to organise a public meeting, at sliding scale for residents' parking which local people had an opportunity charges based on vehicle carbon emis- to quiz post office officials. At the sions. We want to reward drivers who meeting on 6th December last year, choose greener cars with a lower fee, Caroline Lucas put forward the idea of and balance this up with a higher local authorities working with Post charge for gas guzzlers. The Tories Office Ltd to keep these public rejected this plan even though it is facilities open long before other already working well in Richmond. authorities such as Essex County Instead, to help the Tories make up Council had the idea! for their financial crisis, residents now Local people will never forgive their face a blanket hike in parking charges, MPs for this terrible betrayal. whatever car they drive. They placed their trust in their No one is happy about post office closures. Caroline Lucas MEP handed a petition to Post Office Ltd at Air quality in the city is in many the public meeting in December. Local historian, Selma Mountford MBE (pictured front) was a key elected representatives and have been places at dangerous levels, and speaker at the public meeting. badly let down. making more of walking, cycling and buses offers a way forward. It is with some dismay that Brighton & Hove Buses are looking to cut some services which are helping to reduce car dependency. We are challenging these cuts and challenging all councillors to support these services by taking a ride on the bus rather than driving in their cars. Greens have proposed to end free parking for councillors at city centre Lanes and Norton Road car parks. Yes, whereas everyone else has to pay to park, councillors can park for free even when not on council duties - very handy when shopping! As an alternative, councillors can have a free bus pass, which all Green council- Green councillors either cycle or take the bus to carry out their duties. Cllr Ian Davey uses lors take up, (cont’d overleaf) two wheels, not four. Page 2 - GreenLeaf - Newspaper of the Brighton & Hove Green Party - Spring 2008 Democracy in danger Whose beach is it, anyway? the Executive. It's then either the Brighton & Hove Green Party fully totally negates the reasons for taking Leader or a Cabinet member who take supports the Barking Mad campaign to the dog for a walk.” all the decisions - despite any other combat the City Council's proposals to Caroline Lucas MEP, who is a Vice parties’ alternative solutions. Current ban dogs from our beaches and President of the RSPCA, has brought proposals rule out guaranteed speak- requiring them to be kept on leads on the issue to their attention, pointing ing rights for all parties in Cabinet golf courses. out that this 'sledgehammer to crack a meetings. Animals have rights too, and an nut' is “essentially a ban on dog Because the Conservatives have the outright ban is also unfair on the owners - and it can only have terrible most councillors, it is likely they will responsible dog owners who keep consequences for human health, ani- form an all-Tory Cabinet. their pets under control and clear up mal welfare and civil liberties.” “This is bad for democracy, because after them. Green councillors, Bill Randall, Ben other parties and viewpoints are being Ben Duncan, Queen's Park councillor Duncan, Rachel Fryer and Keith Taylor shut out,” continued Keith Taylor. and the Greens' parliamentary candi- joined other protesters and their dogs "With a hung council like ours, there date for Brighton Kemptown, said: “Of in the Doggie Demo from Kemptown is a good case for a cross-party course we shouldn't be extending dog to Brighton Town Hall on Saturday 8th Councillor Keith Taylor executive with opposition councillors Green Councillors are calling for chairing scrutiny committees with pol- changes to the City Council's demo- icy development powers, as well as cratic process to be delayed to allow looking at Cabinet decisions. time for public involvement and “It's also vital that decisions are proper debate. properly debated before they are made The council has been instructed by - with all parties' spokespeople having central Government to replace its speaking rights in Cabinet and existing committee system with a Executive Member meetings. In Leader and Cabinet model, where an denying this fundamental democratic all-powerful Leader and his/her cabi- right, both the Tories and Labour are net make all day to day decisions. threatening to dismantle a vital strand However, while legislation doesn't of our local democracy. require adoption of the new system “The current Council Leader, Cllr until May 2009, both Conservative and Brian Oxley (Con) has staked his Labour councillors are rushing to credibility on delivering the best change by May this year. Greens call system of democracy we can get, yet this 'indecent haste'. he's just announced he's quitting as Green councillors, Bill Randall, Ben Duncan, Rachel Fryer and Keith Taylor joined other supporters and “Such a tight timetable doesn't Leader. I don't call that much of an their dogs in the Doggie Demo from Kemptown to Brighton Town Hall on Saturday 8th March in allow enough time for a new system to endorsement, do you?” support of the Barking Mad campaign. be properly developed with public and Greens will continue to fight for the bans from beaches or open spaces, March in support of the campaign. councillor involvement,” said Green best possible deal in the constitution and I am delighted that the Greens Caroline Lucas has also urged coun- Convenor Keith Taylor. when full council votes on its adoption have been able to play a role in the cillors to reconsider the ban, and is Under the new system, councillors on April 26. campaign against these ridiculous calling on all concerned residents to elect a Leader, who then appoints proposals.” sign a petition on Cabinet members to become part of Keeping dogs on leads on golf www.petitiononline.com/BRIGHTON courses will also affect those who live further from the beach, particularly Water, water everywhere those in the northern edge of the Ticket to ride (cont’d from page 1) city, in areas such as Patcham. Cllr as this allows us to travel more It's great to see that the Council is proposing action on bottled water. Cllr Keith Pete West, a local resident, is very sustainabaly to wherever our duties Taylor, Green Party convenor, is suggesting that all future council meetings serve aware of the effects that such restric- take us around the city. tap water in jugs and proper glasses, rather than the usual (you've guessed it) tions will have on people's quality of Labour councillors silently joined bottled variety in plastic cups. In particular, Keith has made the suggestion for a life. He observes that, “a huge the Tories in failing to support our meeting that discusses . erm . action on bottled water. number of people near me own dogs, proposal. The explanation from the and walking them on the local golf Conservative Chair of Environment course gives them and their animals speaks volumes: 'it takes too long on enormous pleasure. the bus, so I drive'. “If dogs have to be kept on leads, Vote blue, go green? Hmm, I don't they can’t exercise properly, which think so! Cheers! Brighton & Hove Green Councillors drink to the city's health - with fresh tapwater! GreenLeaf - Newspaper of the Brighton & Hove Green Party - Spring 2008 - page 3 Portrait of a community campaigner Keith Taylor, Convenor of the Brighton and Hove Greens, speaks to Jackie Chase, the Brighton woman who led a community campaign to free Omar Deghayes from captivity in Guantanamo Bay.