LOCAL LABOUR ACTION IN THE CITY
Winter/Spring 2010
Labour Councillor calls for Council plan to market test Green-Field site for Commercial Waste to be scrutinised
Yesterday, in a meeting at Brighton and Hove City Council the Hove Conservative Councillor Ayas Fallon-Khan gave permission to market test an 8 acre stretch of land known as Hangleton Bottom for use as a potential site for commercial waste.
Hangleton Bottom is owned by the Council and is currently an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, will border the South Downs National Park, is close to residential areas and classified as a green-field site.The Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Les Hamilton from South Portslade has called for this decision to be reviewed to ensure the public are able to have their say over the use of this valuable plot of land and not hidden behind Council bureaucracy.
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Les Hamilton added,
“This green-field site has the chance to be a real asset to local people, which everyone can benefit from, such as community or open spaces. People should have the chance to put their views before the Tories well in advance of them taking a decision of this magnitude.I believe the decision taken by the Conservative Councillor to potentially sell off a piece of land for commercial waste should be challenged. Local people should be given the chance to have their say before this Council starts marketing Hangleton Bottom. “
The chance of a new Co-op Trust primary school for Hove
The Cooperative Party in Sussex and Local Labour Councillor for Goldsmid Ward, Melanie Davis, hosted a morning that allowed parents, head teachers and community leaders to hear about the opportunity of a Co-op Trust primary school for Hove.
The Chair of Sussex Co-operative Party, Daniel Yates called for the whole community, including local colleges, universities, businesses, charities, and voluntary sectors to come together to support a proposal for the Co-operative Trust Schools model to be considered by Brighton & Hove City Council when making any decisions on a new Primary school for the City Centre.
Daniel added, “There is a real opportunity here to create a new school that puts real power in the hands of local parents within the Co-operative ethos. But to seriously achieve this we will need to have the support of wide sections of the community working alongside local families."
People heard from Sean Rogers, College Associate, who is leading the work on supporting schools who are adopting the Co-operative Trust model.
Councillor Melanie Davis from Goldsmid Ward said,“When I speak to families in Hove, the lack of primary schools places is a frequent problem. This is the time for action and a positive, inclusive solution such as that being offered by the Co-operative Trust Schools model which should be shared with the local community, giving them the chance to have a stronger say in the development of their children’s education. ”
, Sc Schools Secretary Ed Balls said:
“Co-operative school trusts put power in the hands of those who know best what is needed in their area, by allowing local communities to come together and have direct power over the running of their local schools. They mean that everybody with a stake in the school’s success – parents, teachers, support staff, and even pupils – can all get involved in the running of their school. And most importantly, they can help to raise aspirations, improve standards and ensure that parents have more choice of good local schools.”
For more info from the Argus see http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4779644.Proposals_heard_for_new_Hove_school/
Labour urges local shoppers to buy Fairtrade
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Fairtrade Foundation the Local Labour Group are encouraging shoppers in Brighton and Hove to buy the new Fairtrade cosmetics and toiletries that will soon be available. Councillors Gill Mitchell and Melanie Davis will also be putting forward a motion to the next full council asking that more items sold and used in council buildings be Fairtrade.
Cllr Gill Mitchell said:
“Labour made Brighton the first Fairtrade Town in the UK over 10 years ago, but we must continue to fight for ethical trading. During this global economic downturn, it is vital that world trade continues. With 7 out of 10 households buying Fairtrade products our shopping habits can make a real difference to the world’s poorest people. Fairtrade helps support 7.5 million people in the developing world. By buying food, gifts and now cosmetics from developing countries we will help grow their economies and reduce poverty. This Council should be leading the way by making more Fairtrade products available to buy and use in Council buildings.”
AUTUMN 2009Back the ban on hunting with dogs
David Cameron has pledged to dedicate Government time to a bill abolishing the ban on fox hunting as a priority, if the Tories were to win the next General Election.
The Labour Party is proud to have banned hunting with dogs, and will be campaigning alongside animal welfare organisations against the Tories' proposed re-introduction of this cruel practice.
To show your support for our campaign, and receive future updates on our work in this area, please sign our online petition.http://www.backtheban.com/
Labour Group Leader signs petition to scrap Trident 
Leader of the Labour Group and member of CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) for over 20 years, Cllr Gill Mitchell signed a petition on the last day of the Labour Party Conference to scrap Trident.
Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said:
"It's great that Gill is supporting our campaign. More and more people are reaching the conclusion that spending £76 billion on replacing Trident is a grave mistake. We hope many other local government leaders will follow her example."
Cllr Gill Mitchell said,
"I was a member of the CND before I joined the Labour Party. I joined as a young parent who wanted my children to grow up in a world free from nuclear weapons. Speaking with the CND volunteers at the Labour Party conference, my feelings against nuclear weapons are still as strong now as they were then. More positive solutions to global security must be found."