Liberal Democrats launch General Election plans on policing

Launching Safer Streets – More and Better Police, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne will reveal research showing that:

• Police numbers have fallen in 18 out of the 43 police forces (42%) in England and Wales since 2005. Two thirds of these police authorities are currently controlled by the Tories and one third by Labour
  
  
• The new officers proposed under Liberal Democrat plans could be expected to make an additional 27,500 arrests and solve more than 24,500 extra crimes each year in England and Wales alone

The extra officers, funded by the savings from scrapping ID cards, would be provided over the course of a Parliament with every area in England, Wales and Scotland benefiting.

The plans to cut crime through more and better policing also include:

• Elected police authorities

• Publishing detection data as well as crime data at ward level
  
  
• A review of the restrictive terms and conditions for police officers, including introducing an annual fitness check for all officers on the beat

Commenting, Nick Clegg said:

“The Liberal Democrats are the only party that wants to cut crime by putting more police on the street.

“When only one in a hundred crimes ends up with a conviction in court, it is time for things to change.

“Labour and the Conservatives may talk tough but they are unwilling to make the crucial decisions to cut crime.”

Commenting further, Chris Huhne added:

“With so many forces seeing cuts in numbers, this is the right time to be promising a longer arm for the law.

“The Liberal Democrats would rather have more police officers and catch more criminals than continue with unnecessary and expensive ID cards.

“Getting more police on the beat and reforming the way they work is the only way to create safer streets.”

Government emissions up 6.25% in 2008

Carbon emissions from the public sector increased 6.25% in 2008, Liberal Democrat analysis of new Government figures reveals. While every major sector of the economy except housing saw emissions fall, the public sector saw emissions rise from 9.6m tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e) to 10.2 MtCO2e.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said:

“How can the Government expect to be taken seriously on climate change if it can’t even get its own emissions under control?

“Labour is yet again failing to match its climate rhetoric with real action

“Britain needs a Government which sets an example and delivers immediate and ambitious carbon reductions.”

Good luck Berni in Brighton Pavilion

I am delighted that Berni Millam will be joining the team of Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidates in Brighton and Hove as our representative in Brighton Pavilion.

I've said it before and I'll say it again that we'll be fighting for every single vote in the city and will ensure that the liberal voice is heard in this election.

Berni comes from West Sussex and is excited about the challenge ahead in what will be an all women election from the four parties.

Berni joins Juilet Williams in Kemp Town and myself in Hove. A strong, diverse and balanced team.

Herre is what Berni wrote on the liberalbrighton.org website after her selection in January:

I have lived on the Sussex Coast for twelve years with my three children. I am a registered nurse and have much experience of working in nursings homes having cared in particular for people suffering from confusion or Alzheimer's disease.

I am a passionate believer in the right to dignity for the elderly and will always stand up for fairness and compassion in order that the elderly get their fair share of the NHS cake .

I have also been a Parish Councillor and concentrated some of my efforts on the plight of the youth who also suffer from a lack of investment in youth facilities leading to disengagement.

I am a firm believer in open accountable government at all levels and believe wholeheartedly in social justice and fairness for all.

It is imperative that our successors are bequeathed a sustainable planet and to that end I took part in last December's Climate Change March in order to raise awareness of the need to act now,

'Housing remains another one of my main area of concern and I continue campaign for a return to proper provision of social housing and end the scandalous number of empty houses in our area.

Old Market goes on the market for a million

The Old Market venue is advertised today in the Argus for 'offers in the region of £1,000,000', a bargain considering the size and potential of the building.

It states that it could be 'suitable for other uses, subject to planning', however any potential buyer should note that there will be a vigorous fight to retain it as a community facility.

The marketing of the site really does highlight the failure of the council to step in and provide security for the building.

If only there was time to set up a community trust to take on the building.

Council Chief Executive visits Brunswick & Adelaide

The council's new chief executive, John Barradell, visited Brunswick & Adelaide to find out more about the issues the ward faces. In an unprecedented three hour visit, Mr Barradell toured a range of organisations to find out what they think about the city and how it works for them. The chief executive is undertaking a similar visit to every ward in the city.

First stop was the Cornerstone and the highly successful Children's Centre, followed by a visit to the Brunswick Older People's Project. These projects contribute massively to the local area.

We moved onto meet with the various local residents associations, starting in Palmeira Square, where a resident spoke movingly about the problem of drug taking outside his home. The chief executive promised to take the problem up with the chief constable that afternoon! Then it was off to Lansdowne Place to see some of the highly successful work going on there, progress all led by local residents.

This was followed by a look at the proposed new Sainsbury's on Western Road. We discussed, in some detail,, our concerns over loading issues and the granting of yet another alcohol license there.

We also looked at one of the five new bike racks being installed in the ward. There is huge demand for secure cycle parking in the area and these have long be fought for.

Then it was off to Brunswick Square, again to see the progress made with the gardens there and also to discus some of the seafront issues which come up each year.

Just as the rain started, the Friends of St Andrew's provided excellent refuge and the opportunity for the chief executive to hear about the restoration of St Andrew's Church and their work providing a unique community venue in what has to be one of the city's most beautiful buildings.

Further on, Waterloo Street residents were busy in their community garden and took the opportunity to raise a range of issues, as did Farman Street residents who continue to face unacceptable anti-social behaviour from Western Road.

Finally, we were able to show the chief executive some of the issues on Western Road, for example around access. As we finished we called into City Books, a fine example of a thriving local independent shop.

Throughout the visit the chief executive showed a keen interest in the concerns of residents and offered to help troubleshoot any unresolved problems which came up. We were extremely grateful for the time he gave to our community and the genuine interest shown in our issues. He certainly made his mark here and the visit was appreciated by all he met.

What should council staff expect to see in an anti-bullying whisteblowing policy?

Whistleblowing and in particular anti-bullying is finally back on the council agenda after two years of delay. The 'dignity at work' scrutiny panel has been reconvened to hopefully look at a draft. Followers of the council's proceedings will know that I have watched this closely over the years following a series of complaints from staff members, many from diverse backgrounds, who came to me when I chaired the council's equalities forum. To help the debate, here is what I think should be include in the council's anti-bullying policies.

Principles:

* harassment and bullying are considered absolutely unacceptable conduct. This includes harassment and bullying on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, religion or philosophical belief, age, HIV/AIDS status or social 'class';

* individuals have the confidence to complain about harassment and bullying should it arise;

* individuals have the confidence that any concerns they may have will be dealt with fairly and appropriately, with independent monitoring and the right of appeal.

Recommendations:

1. To start this off, there must be an audit to analyse the extent to which bullying is a concern, identifying the particular issues which may need to addressed.

2. There must be a specific anti-bullying policy as an extension of the main dignity at work policy and linked to the Equal Opps and Inclusion policies.

3. Make bullying of any kind a disciplinary and grievance offence.

4. Language must be accessible and open, this should not read like a health and safety policy.

5. Educate managers and make them responsible for implementing the policy.

6. Ensure that employees can make a complaint without fear of reprisal or victimisation - that means taking out the first point of reporting as the line manager.

7. The council should set up an informal support system made up of independent volunteers to assist employees complaining of bullying.

8. Any policy should communicate and publicise the organisation's stance on bullying, and inform all staff of their rights and responsibilities. Communicate that the policy applies to everyone - including contractors. This needs to be led from the top and should be made widely available - we shouldn't be able to miss it. In addition to campaigns to raise awareness, there needs to be a permanent display in every building/floor.

9. Provide independent awareness and skills training on dealing with bullying.

10. Monitor and review the procedures and complaints system - with an annual (at least) report to councillors.

11. Provide independent, confidential support and counselling for the target and witness - the number must be on the policy and all publicity.

12. Buy in from the very top of the organisation - which I already know we have from the new chief executive.

13. Finally, there must be the right of appeal.

Lib Dem Leader calls for whistleblower protection to be restored

The public interest defence for civil service and local government whistleblowers should be restored, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP will say in a speech to the Institute of Government.

It should be restored, he will add, providing this protection will strengthen the independence of the civil service and would aid officials speaking out on issues in the public interest, as with the legality of the invasion of Iraq.

In his speech Mr Clegg will say: “The Chilcot Inquiry is a powerful reminder of the ambiguity that can surround the role of officials and the ease with which they can be dictated to by politicians.

“Where national security is concerned officials should act with the national interest in mind. But where there is clear need to speak out in the public interest – as with the dubious legality of the war in Iraq – officials must know they can do so free from prosecution.

“The number one responsibility of civil servants must be to the people of Britain, not self serving Ministers. That is why the Liberal Democrats would amend the Official Secrets Act to restore the public interest defence for whistleblowers that was originally removed by the Conservatives.

“If that protection had been in place when the fateful decision was taken to invade Iraq Tony Blair and Gordon Brown might have been more openly challenged by officials who harboured real doubts about the war. But without cast iron protection for whistleblowers, it was too easy for this government to bully and cajole the civil service into remaining silent about one of the greatest errors of any government in the post war period.”

Meet your Councillors this weekend

We are available tomorrow at 10am at the Cornerstone, Church Road. If you have a problem or need assistance, please come along. All welcome.

University of Sussex cuts

This is the Lib Dem amendment agreed at Brighton and Hove full council meeting last night, against the propsoed job cuts at the University of Sussex.

> Amendment to 52 g - Green motion - University of Sussex cuts >

In communicating these views, this council also calls on the University of Sussex to consider accepting the proposal made by the trade union UCU who adopted a resolution to present an alternative solution (with equivalent savings) to the University management. This proposes additional offers of part time working instead of redundancy, albeit to a greater number of people. It would have the distinct advantage of retaining the skills within the University, avoiding large numbers of redundancy payments, and putting the University in a position where it can grow faster in better economic times. It could also avoid industrial action which will impact negatively on teaching and research as well as the University's reputation.

> > Cllr Paul Elgood > Cllr David Watkins

Holocast Memorial Day

As part of Holocast Memorial Day, local survivors of the Holocaust are featured in an exhibition of photographic portraits at the Jubilee Library.

Twelve recently-taken pictures of the men and women will be on display for Portraits for Posterity, which runs at the Library until February 13. They tell remarkable stories.

The project aims to ensure that individuals’ testimonies remain to educate future generations. It will also bolster Holocaust commemorations which take place in January each year.

Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations will take place on or around January 27, the 65^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

You can find our more about the exhibition at www.portraitsforposterity.com

Sainsbury's planning application

The planning application for Sainsbury's on Western Road has been published and detailed on the council's website site, as follows:

BH2009/03112 - 55 Western Road Hove - Installation of new shop front, incorporating ATM. Installation of screened plant to rear of shop.

You can find details at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk under planning, where you can comment directly.

The application does nothing for the appearance of the street, and the proposed advertising will be extremely deterimental to the conservation area.

Last week I had a detailed discussion with the area manager for Sainsbury's, raising issues in connection with the unloading at the shop and potential for large lorries to block the road. They are undertaking a risk assessment and will use smaller lorries if possible, but she said they would have to take into account the economic viability of doing this. I don't hold out much hope!

Labour’s 4,300 new ways of making you a criminal

Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesperson, Chris Huhne MP has highlighted new research by the Liberal Democrats that the Labour Government has created more than 4,200 new criminal offences since it came to power in 1997.

The figures, released in Parliamentary answers, show:

• Between 1997 and 2009, 4,289 new criminal offences were created, approximately one for every day ministers have been in office
  
  
• The rate at which new offences are being created is increasing. Under Tony Blair, new criminal offences were created at a rate of 27 a month but under Gordon Brown’s premiership, this has risen to 33 a month

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to this excessive criminalisation with the creation of a ‘stop unit’ in the Cabinet Office. Every department in Whitehall would have to convince this small legal unit the need for a new offence.

Commenting, Chris says:

“This splurge of new criminal offences shows that the Government has learned nothing.

“Three times the Liberal Democrats have asked for an update on the number of new criminal offences and it is staggering that the problem is getting worse rather than better.

“This legislative diarrhoea is not about making us safer, it is merely ministers posturing on penalties.

“Many of these offences are worthless, as they duplicate offences which could perfectly well have been used instead.

“Whitehall urgently needs a stop mechanism which ensures that departments must check first whether the behaviour they dislike can be prosecuted already.

“The legacy of Labour is hyperactive law making that has spread confusion among police officers, judges and every other professional who has to deal with this cascade of nonsense.”

Black youths should not be left behind

Almost half of all young black youths are now unemployed according to recent statistics.

Unemployment among young black people rose from 35% in March 2009 to 48% in November 2009 research by the Institute for Public Policy Research has found.

The research was revealed as the Liberal Democrats launched their Youth Jobs plan as part of their economic stimulus and job creation package. The plans will invest almost £900m in increasing the number of further education places, giving students financial support to return to college and creating a paid internship scheme.

Commenting on this Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg MP said: “It is absolutely unacceptable that so many hard working young people may have to face a future of joblessness.

“After years of Labour failure it is clear that young people and especially black youngsters are being let down in this recession.

“Everyone will know someone who has recently left college or university with hopes of starting a career only to find they cannot even get on the lowest rung of the job ladder.

“We will make sure that all young people have access to more training, education, an internship or a place on a work programme that will give hope to the nearly one million young people who currently can’t find a job.

“It is vital that young black people are not left behind."

Nick Clegg - a Liberal with Attitude

In an interview with Attitude magazine, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg sets out a strong Liberal Democrat line on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights - highlighting the Lib Dem's consistent lead on equality over many decades and and including calls to:

* Force all schools - including faith schools - to implement anti-homophobia bullying policies and teach that homosexuality is "normal and harmless".

* Change the law to allow same-sex couples the same marital rights as mixed-sex couples, including the right to use the word "marriage" rather than maintaining the segregation of civil partnerships.

* Reverse the ban on gay and bisexual men, and female partners of bi men, being allowed to give blood.

* Guarantee any refugees genuinely fleeing a country because of persecution over their sexual orientation asylum in the UK.

* Review Uganda's membership of the Commonwealth if its government was to bring in the death penalty as proposed in the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill".

Small venues should not pay for live music licences say Lib Dems

Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Clement-Jones’s Live Music Bill will be debated in the House of Lords tomorrow [Friday January 15]. The bill aims to amend the Licensing Act to make it easier for musicians to perform in small venues.

This would also boost local pubs, currently closing at a rate of 52 a week according to CAMRA, which could pull in more customers with live music.

The Government’s 2003 Licensing Act means all live musical performances must have a licence or the organisers risk criminal prosecution with a potential 6 months in prison or £20,000 fine.

Commenting, Lord Clement-Jones said: “The Government says live music must be licensed to prevent public disorder. But pubs don’t need a licence to show a live football match on TV. Do they really think people who listen to live music are more of a threat to public order than football fans?

“Small venues are vitally important to Britain’s creative culture. Many successful musicians got their first break gigging in pubs or student unions. But the cost and time of applying for a licence means fewer small spaces are prepared to put on live music.

“My bill proposes that schools, hospitals, colleges and venues up to a capacity of 200 should not need a licence for a live music performance, and that the “two-in-a-bar” exemption should be reinstated. Without these changes, we risk suffocating our live music scene in red tape.

“The Government is out of tune with the live music scene, and has announced yet another long consultation. Supporting my Bill is the only chance to change the law before the general election.”

Tim Clement-Jones’ Live Music Bill is backed by the Musicians’ Union, UK Music, the National Campaign for the Arts, and Equity, as well as having strong support among musicians, publicans and the music press.

Over 7,500 Brighton & Hove pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments

Over 7,500 Brighton & Hove pensioners will miss out on Cold Weather Payments triggered by the recent weather, according to analysis of Government figures by the Liberal Democrats.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 a week are paid to people on low incomes who receive a qualifying benefit, such as Pension Credit, which goes unclaimed by as many as 1.7m pensioners.

In Hove this is estimated to be 2,690, Brighton Pavilion 1,925, Brighton Kemptown 2,945.

Brighton and hove is freezing at the moment and it is a scandal that pensioners on the breadline are missing out on these payments, worth an estimated £42.5m across England.

A Cold Weather Payment could literally make the difference for a pensioner at this time. Heating their homes is critical during these hrsh winter conditions.

Labour has failed pensioners by creating a complicated system that makes it difficult for them to get the help they desperately need.

The Government should be making every effort to identify pensioners who are missing out and get them this extra cash.

Notes:

1. People can get Cold Weather Payments worth £25 when temperatures are below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days when they claim a qualifying benefit. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018668

2. Pension Credit is a qualifying benefit yet Department for Work and Pensions figures for 2007-08 (the most recent available) show that between 1.1m and 1.7m pensioners who are poor enough to qualify for Pension Credit do not claim, meaning they won’t receive Cold Weather Payments to help with fuel bills during the recent cold snap http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/income_analysis/jun_2009/0708_PensionCredit.pdf

Brighton 'O' planning decision delayed

I have to say that I find it somewhat odd that Brighton & Hove City Council is deferring its decision on plans for a temporary 60 metre high ferris wheel on Brighton seafront, before it even got to tomorrow's committee. Yes, of course the committee itself could have taken the decision to defer the application for more information or further visits, however it never even got to the committee for the process to take place in public session.

This decision - taken behind closed doors - can only help the applicant to get their proposal through and do nothing to help objectors concerned at the application.

The Brighton ‘O’ is proposed for the Lower Esplanade, east of the West Pier. Planners were recommending refusal because the current proposal overlaps the site for the planned ‘i360’, observation tower.

Objections were raised that the 18 metre overlap could hamper work on the i360, which has planning permission. Concerns over noise and disturbance are also reported.

Yes, of course, the Local History Centre must be fully retained

There has been an extremely effective campaign to try and retain the invaluable Brighton Local History Centre.

The Tories are proposing that the Centre will be moved to the Jubilee Library for two years before the 'The Keep' is opened jointly by the city council and East Sussex County Council. The decision has caused widespread concern over the downgrading of the service whist work on 'The Keep' is undertaken.

This was clearly the wrong decision for the council to make and if it is at all possible we will support any attempts to retain it at its present site for the coming few years.

There has been widespread concern over the future of the service, which simply cannot be downgraded in this way. The loss of staff expertise associated with the decision beggars belief, this alone will be hard to replace. I am also concerned at the potential damage to the items in the collection by moving it needlessly twice. The council has a duty of care for the collection, and part of that is about ensure suitable public access.

''The Keep', whilst a worthy plan in itself, doesn't even exist yet so this decision is premature to say the least.

This decision by the council is all about saving money in the short term, but it is a false economy to undermine such an important service as this.

I use specialist collections in London and America and their value is immeasurable. It horrifies me that the city would seek to treat its own specialist collections in this off hand way.

The Tories need to think again on this - the decision has to be re-visited, even at a time of extremely tight budgets after years of financial mismanagement.

Can clearing ice from outside your property lead to a legal claim?

I love urban myths, and this is one of the biggest. An interesting legal clarification suggests that:

Clearing the snow is unlikely to give rise to legal liability. The claimant would have to show that:

1. The way the householder tried to clear the ice created or made the situation worse

2. The injury sustained was the result of the actions of the householder and not just snow/ice

3. The actions of the householder were not what one would expect a reasonable householder to have undertaken

4. It was reasonably foreseeable that their action would cause damage or injury to passers by

It is therefore unlikely that any such claims would succeed.

Parking enforcement officers used for snow and ice clearance

The city's parking enforcement officers have been used in snow clearance operations. This is the first time they have been used for operations outside of the parking contract.

The move came after the council confirmed that parking enforcement has been suspended due to the weather conditions. I emailed the Director of Environment yesterday to request that this is considered, and was grateful for a helpful response.

With members of staff from CityClean being deployed on the snow effort, surely the parking enforcement officers should also be made available? Their help at this time could be invaluable.

The parking contract is currently undertaken externally by a private company, however these officers still should be working for the greater good of the city in such emergency situations.

Beyond the basic enforcement process there is little community gain from the parking contract. We've always argued that these officers could make a very positive contribution to the wider community in the same way as PCSOs have for the Police. They could become the eyes and ears of the council, reporting problems and helping residents and visitors. Getting them involved in the vital snow effort could be part of this.

I really think that residents and business would appreciate this, it would go down very well and help improve public confidence in the parking enforcement service.

Stay up-to-date on the council's response to the snow at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Lib Dems attack Labour's failing record

Liberal Democrats in Brighton and Hove will kick off the New Year by launching a specially printed Labour attack tabloid, challenging Labour's record in government.

Thousands of copies of the newspaper will begin to be delivered across the Hove, Pavilion and Kemp Town constituencies from next week.

The focus in the current election debate is on the Tories but we also want to challenge the Labour government's failing record too. Labour simply do not deserve another term, and we are sending out a clear message of change to voters.

To offer to help deliver the newspaper in your area please email info@liberalbrighton.org.

The newspaper can be seen here:

http://www.liberalbrighton.org/userfiles/file/liberal_democrat_tabloid_20-12-09_web.pdf

Sainsbury's put in license and planning applications for Western Road

Details are a bit sketchy due to the council's Christmas break, but my sources tell me that Sainsbury's have made applications to both planning and licensing for their new Western Road store.

Details, when published, can be found at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk under the planning and licensing sections. I'll also post them here.

This will mean yet another license application for our area - how much alcohol can one area consume? We've recently seen applications for outlets in Palmeira Square and the new Mulberry Stores on Church Road.

Sainsbury's have also written to neighbouring traders confirming their plans for the shop. I wonder if they included Tescos in this circular?

Council's whistleblowing practices criticised by independent Audit Commission report

An independent report into Brighton and Hove City Council's governance arrangements has criticised the authority's approach to whistleblowing.

The delayed report, finally published by the council in December 2009, stated that: 'The Council's whistle blowing policy is not well publicised and more work is needed to strengthen arrangements for reporting (in confidence) incidents of inappropriate behaviour. The Council has a policy in place but 56 per cent of officers and 45 per cent of Councillors surveyed did not believe that the Council has an effective whistle blowing policy. In addition, there was a very high percentage of 'don't know' responses to the survey by senior officers and Councillors for this area. This means that the policy has not been effectively communicated to Councillors and officers.'

The Audit Commission have highlighted the very issues we've been raising with the council for years now.

A majority of officers and a huge number of councillors now support this view. The council must now act to restore confidence in its whistleblowing practices.

If there was an effective policy in place, then the council would not be constantly dogged by this criticism. It astounds me that this isn't the case and that the council hasn't acted to ensure that an effective policy is there for when it is needed. They need only look to other councils for examples of good practice.

Whistleblowing processes in the council simply do not encourage people to come forward to raise their concerns over wrong doing and malpractice.

Why does the council have to be dragged to act on this?

The full Audit Commission report can be seen at:

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Published/C00000162/M00001868/AI00012316/Item47GoodGovernanceReportAppendix1

My top 10 moments of the year

This time of year sees numerous reviews and retrospectives on the past twelve months. Lib Dem blogsphere is full of them, so here is my countdown of good and bad points of 2009. It is a mix of local, national and international events which have helped to define 2009.

10. Snow joke - the council's poor handling of the snow and ice is first up.

9. Inauguration of Barack Obama, by any measure a historic moment.

8. Brighton & Hove got a new Chief Executive - will the new broom live up to expectations in 2010?

7. Traders under pressure - especially in Brunswick Town where the corporate creep is taking place in front of our eyes. However a few high street names were lost too, including Borders.

6. MPs expenses has to be on any list of the year - the best bit of investigative journalism since Watergate.

5. Goldsmid by-election - what a shame the sitting Conservative councillor couldn't get cracking for his residents - being on the council is a job that every other councillor finds an honour and privilege.

4. Brunswick Square garden opening - a wonderful event to mark the opening of the new planting in the gardens. Residents have done a terrific job there. Lansdowne Place also followed with their City In Bloom awards and now there is even a community garden in Waterloo Street too.

3. The council's 'Get Involved' day was a worthy event. I was pleased to have taken part in the speed dating session with some of the city's inspiring young people, and got voted councillor 'most in touch with youth issues' for my trouble. Now that really is an award worth having.

2. The outcome of the Core Strategy debate at the council saw a vastly improved plan for the future of the city - thank goodness the opposition parties put their differences aside and worked together in the interests of residents.

1. Top spot has to be the launch of the Aids Memorial, which was an amazing day. I didn't enjoy it so much at the time as there was too much going on (and which could go wrong) but the sculpture really is superb and looking back the unveiling was an incredible moment for the city.

Happy New Year!

15 million people for Copenhagen

Join nearly 15 million people to protest at the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Summit: http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

The petition reads: The Copenhagen climate summit ended up in failure: an unambitious, non-binding accord that leaders themselves admit won't come close to tackling climate change. Their failure is a disappointment -- and their failure is a challenge. We must work harder, demand more and never resile from our fight for our children and our planet. That fight continues now. In just 6 weeks time leaders of each country will lock in their nation's emissions reduction targets under this week's agreement. We must show leaders that their inaction is unacceptable. Join over 14 million people from around the world in the largest ever climate petition. Our campaign will continue to build until we get a Real Deal - we won't accept a sham. Sign below, tell everyone -- it's not too late:

Petition to the 110 Presidents and Prime Ministers responsible:We call on each one of you to make the concessions necessary to meet your historic responsibility in this crisis. Rich countries must offer fair funding, and all countries must set ambitious targets on emissions. Do not leave Copenhagen without a fair, ambitious and binding deal that keeps the world safe from catastrophic global warming of 2 degrees.

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish all residents a very Merry Christmas.

For details of the Christmas rubbish and recycling collections please look here. These are still subject to change due to the adverse weather.

And please don't forget to recycle your Christmas Tree at Brunswick Square.

Enjoy the holiday period.

Parking bays not to be enforced on Christmas Day

Parking bays won't be enforced on Christmas Day, senior council officers tell me. The assurance came after I took up the concerns of a resident in my ward who challenged the council to be santa not scrooge! The resident was concerned that visitors would be penalised on Christmas Day, when there would be natural confusion as to whether enforcement would apply.

This is good news for residents on Christmas Day. Can you imagine anything worse than finishing off your Christmas dinner to find out that you've been ticketed? This is exactly the kind of common sense and flexibility which has been sorely lacking in the parking contract and which has led to widespread calls for the approach to be reviewed. Next year I hope this can go further, perhaps to include Boxing Day.

So it really is a happy Christmas from the parking department!

Leaders debate in 'The Argus'

Good news that the party leaders will be debating on TV in the General Election. These debates can often decide an election, as they can do in the US. If nothing else they create memorable TV moments.

However, 'The Argus' got there first today, with all four local group leaders slogging it out in the paper giving their perspective on last week's Core Strategy planning debate. It certainly made for interesting reading. Here is my contribution:

I believe that it is right for local politicians from different parties to be working together in the interests of the city, as we did over the council’s Core Strategy planning document last week. Residents want to see politicians working together in their interests, solving problems and offering a vision for a clean, green and thriving city. As such I was pleased to work with the Labour and Green group leaders to re-write the Conservative drafted Core Strategy which would have been far too car-focused, neglected the needs of local communities and did not reflect the diverse city we live in.

The worst possible thing the opposition parties could have done after the Goldsmid by-election was a power grab for positions and allowances. Instead, what we did was to wait for the right moment to work together and create a far more sustainable future for the city.

One area I was keen to promote, and which was completely forgotten from the new planning document, is that of Brunswick Town, the area which I represent. Recognition in planning terms in the new Core Strategy will help no end to put our area on the map as a unique and thriving shopping area, and one where traders need the council to be helping them out of recession. Closely coupled with this, another issue we were able to pick up on was that of independent traders, and that Brunswick Town like other parts of the city is continually under threat from large multi-nationals stores which will change the balance of local shopping areas.

We wanted to see the council protect and preserve the historic squares and gardens which our city is so famous for. We strengthened the policy in terms of these valuable urban open spaces and to sought better enforcement of local by-laws. Community gardens are also popping up all over the city, and again we wanted to see these reflected in the council’s planning policies for the first time. We sought to strength the link between schools and local communities in the city – we believe that every local community in the city should have a direct link to school places which are as close as realistically possible to their homes. We also wanted to see the diversity of St James’s Street reflected in the policy paper, and with it specific measures to combat community safety problems and hate crime. Reducing crime and vicious attacks is good for the whole community.

These are some of the issues we feel strongly about and which we felt were lacking the in the council’s new planning strategy. When put in the context, how could it not have been right to work together? We were elected by residents to promote these very issues, and we would have been failing in this duty had we not taken this opportunity.

Over the last two years the council has moved from a committee system to a one party all powerful Cabinet system. We simply do not believe that single party decision making reflects this diverse city, or the will of local people who never elected the Conservatives with a majority of seats. I call on the Leader of the Council to make decision-making more inclusive so that it truly reflects the political mix of the city. That way the city can once again begin to move forward and break through the stalemate that a hung council can otherwise bring.