Thursday's election result

The election result announced yesterday was of course a disappointment to us. Although our share of the vote in Hanover and Elm Grove did increase slightly, the Greens did win resoundingly and we congratulate them for that, and for their performance across the city.

I for one have really enjoyed the last six months worth of campaigning. I've really got to know the ward and come to appreciate even more its positives, in particular the sense of community, and the thoughtfulness with which many people in this area approach politics. I've had some really interesting conversations and heard a great variety of views which will stay with me.

I've also appreciated some of the challenges the area faces, in particular with managing the large number of houses of multiple occupancy, rubbish in the streets, parking, and traffic/cycling on the Lewes Road. My biggest regret at not being elected is that I can't help to tackle some of these issues in the same way that an elected councillor would. But I will continue to take an interest. The elected Green councillors have promised action on all of these things, and Labour will be taking a keen interest to see what they will deliver. In Hanover and Elm Grove, as in much of central Brighton, Labour is the main opposition to the Greens and we will be scrutinising their performance in exactly the same way that they would do to us. Every elected party that holds power should be held to account, and a robust opposition is an important part of that accountability.

As Labour Group leader Gill Mitchell said yesterday, Labour will not disappear from any corner of the city, and this ward is no exception. I hope to see you in the ward soon, and thanks to those of you who supported us.

Tracey Hill

AV -- Leo Barraclough: a personal statement



Leo Barraclough (right) with Chris Huhne
MP, and Tory candidate Maria Hutchings.

On May 5^th voters will have a chance to bring in a new system of electing their MPs, and I, personally, am in favour of it.

Last year, I stood as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Eastleigh in Hampshire. I didn't have a realistic chance of winning, but in past elections Labour had got as many as 15,000 votes in the town, so the Labour vote mattered.

The seat was a marginal between the Tories and Liberals, and many Labour supporters voted Liberal to keep the Tory out. They elected Liberal Chris Huhne, and then what happened… he's now a minister in a Tory-led administration.

The AV system would have allowed those Labour supporters to vote Labour, while still keeping the Tories out. Their vote would not have been wasted, and the MP would have had the backing of the majority of the town's voters.

The same would be true in constituencies across Sussex, where far too many voters are faced with the prospect of going through the motions, without any chance of affecting the outcome. This breeds cynicism and indifference.

AV allows voters to be honest about their intentions, be engaged with the political system, and will force politicians to listen to the majority of their voters, not just the party faithful.

Best regards,

Leo Barraclough

More rubbish in the streets - The Argus April 21st

There was a featured letter in the Argus yesterday from a resident of Lincoln Street, together with a photo of rubbish strewn all over the street in front of someone's doorway. This very much reflects what many people have been saying to us, that it's a growing problem and is letting the area down.

The issue is in large part caused by people leaving their ordinary refuse (not recycling) outside the house all week rather than inside the house or in the back garden, and only putting it out on collection day, which is by law what you are supposed to do. In a street like Washington or Coleman where there is no space outside the front of the house, the refuse is essentially blocking the pavement, and, as the weather gets better, becoming smelly and unhygienic. When the seagulls get hold of it that's when it ends up everywhere.

I've spoken at length to CityClean staff about what is being done, and it really is not an easy problem. However, I do think that by focussing on the problem and bringing people together to deal with it, the situation can be improved. Labour's manifesto includes a commitment to re-introduce Grime-Fighter days, where council officers, police, parking attendants, trading standards officers, graffiti busters and others got together to sort out problems in particular areas. I think that idea would be of real benefit in this ward.

Aside from that, I think we'd get results simply from more persistence in dealing with the problem, following through with people and making sure everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing. And being prepared to follow that up with warning letters and fines where necessary.

It must be remembered that CityClean's budget this year has been cut, and this has affected the number of street cleaners. This doesn't bode well for getting the streets cleaner, but it does make it more important that we try to prevent rubbish being strewn everywhere in the first place.

Tracey Hill

Election fatigue already?!

The sign on this front door made us all smile the other day. I'm not sure it had the desired effect, as we all got our cameras out to take a snap!

Leo Barraclough: Varndean and academies

A number of parents have asked me to set out my views on whether I think Varndean School should apply for academy status.
They are as follows:
-- I do not believe that academy status would be beneficial for the school, its staff, the students and their parents, nor for the wider community of Brighton and Hove.
-- I believe the school, and other successful schools like it, would do better to stay within the local education authority.
So, should the proposal be made, I will oppose it.
If we enter a consultative period, I will propose that we have a ballot of all parents, and that the views of parents of those children who may wish to come to the school in the future should be considered too.
With regards to the minutes of the recent full governors meeting, I have informed my fellow governors that I wish them to be published in full immediately.
As the Labour Party states in its manifesto for Brighton and Hove, while we do accept that academy status with real additional resources and fresh thinking could be a way to revive a failing school, we do not agree with the coalition government's approach of virtually forcing all successful schools to become academies, while LEAs are dismantled and other schools are under funded in order to pay for the socially divisive 'free schools'.

Leo Barraclough, parent governor, Varndean School; governor in charge of liaison with the parents' association, Varndean Links; deputy chair of the Student Management committee at Varndean; Labour Party candidate for Hanover and Elm Grove ward, Brighton.
18 April 2011

Hanover Day is going ahead - June 12th

It was great to hear recently that after some difficulties mainly caused by poor weather, Hanover Day will be happening this year on 12th June. That's not far off, and there is loads to do, so if anyone is able to help, the organisers would love to hear from you via Hanoverdayassociation@gmail.com

Tracey

Former Lib Dem Candidate now helping Labour

See our article: Ellen Woolley (left), previously a Lib Dem candidate in Hanover and Elm Grove, is now supporting Labour. Many Lib Dem voters all over the ward have expressed the same disappointment as Ellen. Labour is the only party that can stop this coalition government. Please support us!