GGrreeeenn GGrroouupp 22000055 AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS t seems hardly twelve months since the six-strong group of IGreen Councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council was reporting on its activities to the members, writes Keith Taylor, Convenor of the Green Group. However, the year has been a truly momentous one culminating with a terrific effort to increase our share of the General Election vote in our number one target seat of Brighton Pavilion. It went up by a massive 22% compared to the last national contest with a 13% swing in our favour. While the party’s success at the Joy is unbridled as local members realise how far they have extended the Party’s General Election owed a great deal support base and set the scene for the next test, the 2007 local elections to the hard work of the local party cross against a Green candidate’s members and the many volunteers Solid Green achievements pro- name, it would not be a wasted who came down to lend their duced over the previous 12 months vote. unstinting support on the ground, added considerably to the credibil- This report provides B&H Party we cannot discount the impact that ity of the General Election cam- members with a reminder of the the on going work of the Green paign. People saw that voting work of their Councillors over the Group of Councillors had on the Green delivers results locally and last year, both in the Council electorate. felt confident that by putting their Chamber and in the community. May 2004 June 2004 Cllr Simon Williams launches local June 2004 campaign to stop record shops selling rap reens expose scandal of TETRA reen Group publicise that the music that incites the murder of lesbian, masts erected on Council owned Labour controlled Council do gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Gproperty despite promises that Gnot intend to force removal of people. they would not be allowed. We call for TETRA mast from Theobald House to their removal. dismay of residents. Bill Randall, the Green Group’s lead on housing calls for Brighton & Greens call for arbitration between The successful European election Hove Council tenants to be given the the in the GMB union and the Council in campaign in Brighton & Hove that option of staying on as tenants of the the threatened refuse dispute. returns Caroline Lucas as an MEP brings council. He also campaigns for the national newspaper recognition that council to be given powers to borrow Brighton Pavilion is winnable for the money through the Housing Finance How to contact our councillors party in the General Election. Corporation (HFC) to carry out St Peters & North Laine improvements to its 13,500 council July 2004 houses and flats. Cllr Keith Taylor (Convenor): [email protected] imon Williams and Anthea Cllr Georgia Wrighton issues state- Telephone:291165 Ballam are adopted as our ment condemning cuts in school bus Cllr Sue Paskins: SProspective Parliamentary candi- services in Hangleton and Hollingdean [email protected] dates for Brighton Kemp Town and and calls for increased Council subsidy to Telephone: 294371 Hove respectively. meet rising operating costs to ensure res- Cllr Simon Williams: idents are not cut off from public trans- [email protected] August 2004 port services. Telephone: 294372 Preston Park eith Taylor is appointed Trade justice motion is put on Principal male speaker for the Council agenda byGreen councillors. Cllr Richard Mallender: national Green Party to replace [email protected] K Mike Woodin who died the previous Cllr Sue Paskins successfully launch- Telephone:294367 month. es bid supporting the use of re-useable Hanover and Elm Grove nappies and persuades the Council to call Cllr Bill Randall: September 2004 on local maternity units to stop using and [email protected] issuing disposable nappies. Telephone: 294366 lans to expand Shoreham Cllr Georgia Wrighton: [email protected] Airport opposed by local people Green Councillors force British troops out of Iraq motion onto Council Telephone:294365 Pare condemned by Keith Taylor . agenda as Labour gathers in city for der (LGBT) people from incitement to second aerial fire platform from Hove its party conference. hatred, following concern over homo- Fire Station. It will free up vital resources phobic attacks in the city and else- she says. The dumping of cattle carcasses by where. pro-hunt campaigners is condemned by A Green motion opposing a Park & Cllr Simon Williams in whose patch the Keith Taylor walks out of the inaugu- Ride Scheme at Patcham Court Farm incident takes place. ral meeting of the Shoreham Airport is defeated by an alliance of Labour Owning Authorities Board, accusing it of and Tories. Local Tories who have Green motion calling for trade jus- a total lack of vision for not considering promised to oppose the scheme are tice passed by full Council. alternative uses and tells the press of his thrown into confusion. concerns. Richard Mallender wins Council sup- February 2005 port for the Local Sustainability Bill. December 2004 n agreement by record compa- October 2004 long awaitedcity centre parking nies to tackle the ‘murder’ review is published. While wel- Amusic issue prompts Simon righton and Hove City Council coming parts of it Green coun- Williams to call on chains HMV, Virgin passes Green party motion call- A cillors say that the Council must listen Megastore and MVC to take offending Bing for the withdrawal of British to residents carefully rather than material off-sale. troops from Iraq as Tony Blair defeats impose their proposals. a similar motion at the Labour confer- March 2005 ence in the city on the same day. Greens vote against Brighton & Hove and East Sussex County Council recom- righton and Hove Greens spear- Keith Taylor rubbishes John mendations for more incineration follow- head campaign fighting for jus- Prescott’s Local Area Agreement status ing the Waste Local Plan (WLP) Btice on behalf of Guantanemo for Brighton & Hove as a ‘sticking plas- Inspector’s report. detainee Omar Deghayes and win ter solution’ for the city’s financial prob- Council support following a motion to lems and calls for more cash. Cllr Sue Paskins argues in vain for full Council. a funded community centre to be part The loss of the Hangleton & Knoll of the agreement for a housing develop- Party votes to oppose the massive Ward seat by the Labour Party in a by- ment on the Craven Vale estate. Green Hollingdean Depot Material Recycling election hands the balance of power on councillors join local residents in Facility and Waste Transfer Station in the Council to the Green Group. protests. Bill Randall presses for an support of local residents. empty council house to be converted Simon Williams calls for the city’s into a community base. The hours of opening for the new Labour MPs to back the campaign for full city Library are condemned by Bill marriage rights for same-sex couples. Cllrs Richard Mallender and Cllr Randall as being inadequate. Georgia Wrighton join UNISON picket Keith Taylor leads the fight to pre- lines in support of teaching assistants’ The Party puts and wins a motion to vent ‘mega’ casinos and 24 hour gam- strike, while Labour’s Ken Bodfish Council condemning the introduction of bling being allowed in the city. ignores the crisis and takes a break in compulsory identity cards. India. A tax on plastic bags is demanded by Despite passing a Green party Keith Taylor at a Local Government Keith Taylor backs Roundhill motion calling for a moratorium on the Association sponsored debate attended by Crescent residents in fight against six roll-out of the 3G system in the city, Bill MPs, civil servants and fellow local gov- storey block of flats. Randall reveals new T-Mobile mast in ernment elected representatives. Queens Park. November 2004 Our councillors call for Brighton & April 2005 Hove City Council to consider piloting a hi-tech 'hire-a-bike' rental service. abour attempt to gag Keith ill Randall promotes the cause of Taylor is thrown out by the an 'Arms Length Management January 2005 LStandards Board for England BOrganisation’ solution to give and Wales. Local Shoreham cam- council house tenants a greater say in abour reports Keith Taylor to the paigners welcome the decision. their future. Standards Board for England for telling the press why he resigned Keith Taylor comes out in support of L local campaigners fighting for a fairer Brighton & Hove Green councillors from the Shoreham Airport Owning join forces with Oxford colleagues in Authorities Board. The move is con- schools’ admission policy in East mounting a campaign to have PM Blair demned as a crude attempt to ‘gag’ the Brighton. impeached. Green’s best MP prospect in the run up May 2005 to a General Election. Greens link with Tories to put decision to shut out voters on motion to Council to rule out the estab- A scrutiny committee report into the ‘health and safety grounds’ lishment of ‘mega’ casinos in the city. running of the Dome reveals poor finan- Afrom witnessing the results of cial controls. Simon Williams who sits on the General Election count is con- A petition with 30,000 signatures the committee calls for the lessons to be demned as anti-democratic by Green from Brighton Sea Life centre calling for learned and a more rigorous 'hands-on' candidates. The pressure from the an end to the slaughter of dolphins and system by the Council in the future. Party results in a partial back down. porpoises that get caught in fishing nets is handed over by Keith Taylor to Green Simon Williams speaking at the A scrutiny panel chaired by Georgia MEP Caroline Lucas to be presented to Brighton and Hove Community Safety Wrighton delivers its report on the cir- the EU’s Fisheries Commissioner.