Improving our local environment

Remembering
For those of us born after the Second World War it’s particularly powerful to recognise and remember those who fought in that conflict to provide us with a safe, secure and democratic society.  Last Friday’s remembrance ceremony in Brighton with the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Mayor, as well as many other councillors and members of the public was a fitting commemoration of D-Day. Held under a blazing sun, it was a day in stark contrast to the cold November remembrance days that we are all used to.

Remembrance ceremony

At the Chattri

This was followed on Sunday afternoon by another sunny ceremony, this time at the Chattri up at the Downs.  It was to remember and honour the many Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for this country in the First World War, again in pursuit of a safe and peaceful world. Many of these were wounded and cared for in Brighton & Hove, including in the Pavilion which acted as a hospital in the first years of the war. A substantial crowd at the ceremony was addressed movingly by the Indian High Commissioner who looked over the Downs and reflected on the Memorial as being set in a little piece of India. This was a moving annual event.

Celebrations
Talking of the wonderful Downs, I am delighted that the partnership bid led by Brighton & Hove City Council to become a UNESCO World Biosphere site has paid off. So now we become part of an international family of areas that are leading the way in bringing the needs of people and nature closer together. It’s great that our efforts to look after and improve our local environment will move now to take its place on the world’s stage. A highly motivated team of colleagues have driven the achievement of this award and biosphere designation and I am really grateful to them. 

Biosphere Celebrations

While I am celebrating awards, I am also delighted that this week we received an award from the Centre for Public Scrutiny for the trans equality work that has been led by our Trans and Equalities teams. The award was for achievement, insight and impact, and I can certainly testify that members of the trans community that I have met with have told me how much this work has meant to them. Already I see our awareness increasing and the respect, care and learning for and from this community being demonstrated. Only yesterday I spoke at a school where I was able to raise some trans awareness in answer to a question I had posed to young people about if there are any jobs that women cannot fulfil.  

Our universities
I’ll be surprised if the Waste House now opened at Brighton University’s arts campus doesn’t win awards. It was wonderful to be shown around by Duncan Baker-Brown, its architect, and lecturer at the University of Brighton. As the picture shows our own Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp enjoyed the tour too. Hanging in the Waste House was a lovely wooden sustrans bike made by Rowan Tindale from reclaimed wood from one of the old groins salvaged by the wood store. This was exhibited as part of the university’s fantastic annual degree show and was part of a showcase of wonderful art produced by the final year art students.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp with Duncan Baker-Brown

Our universities make such a fine contribution to our city and its economy and this exhibition gave just a glimpse of that creativity and energy. When we visited, there were many residents, proud parents and councillors all enjoying the show.

Wooden sustrans bike made by Rowan Tindale 

A brilliant job
I’ve said before that I’m often struck by the enthusiasm and commitment of our staff. This was certainly the case when I met Mark Bonner last Saturday when he was lifeguarding for our seafront services.

Mark Bonner, lifeguard

He referred to his as a brilliant job where he sees himself as a tourist guide and city ambassador as well as a life saver. He told me a couple of scary stories from the last week, and demonstrated that his skilled presence was certainly saving lives. He ended on a note of appreciating the values that we are driving in the council.

He told me that the camaraderie that he is experiencing in the seafront services outshines that which he has experienced before, even in that height of camaraderie organisations, the armed services. So on that happy note and with his smiling picture and a waving flag I wish you a sunny weekend. 

Best Wishes
Penny

Care and collaboration

Last Sunday was a wonderfully warm day and I interrupted a walk with my elderly father to meet Kevin Watts, jet washer and graffiti remover who was cleaning one of our beach shelters. I was caring for my Dad and Kevin was caring for our wonderful city and keeping it bright and clean.

Kevin Watts

The theme of caring was very present when I visited the Child Development and Disability Service on Monday morning and met a range of health, education and social care staff and two of the parents whose children they work with. Reza Ataie and Debbie Collins both powerfully told their stories of coming to terms with children with profound disabilities and needing to turn to specialist services to support and help them provide a quality of life for their children and their families. 

Reza could not speak too highly of the care that his family is now receiving from their social work resource officer, Matthew Howson, from Downs View School and the services based at Seaside View, our Child Development and Disability Service. He spoke of ‘good services, friendly advice’ and gave this recommendation to others who need to turn for help: ask politely, know what you want, don’t take no for an answer. Turning to Matthew he told me: “this young chap has been instrumental in our family turning the corner”. What a fantastic testimony.  

Reza Ataie and Matthew Howson

Equally Debbie spoke so positively of Seaside View and the support which she received. In particular she mentioned the voluntary organisation Extra Time, who she described as brilliant. She said: “what made the difference was the overnight break away from home, where my daughter received amazing care. This has transformed our lives” Debbie told me.  

Debbie Collins

At the end of our morning we all heard about the disability review which is being launched to look at both improving services to families and also making value for money savings. The review is ambitious in its scope and everyone in the room was enthusiastic about making further improvements, engaging young people and families. The review gets underway in June and is expected to report in December of this year.  

From hearing and being inspired by this caring and collaboration I went straight over to Sussex County Cricket Club to participate in the signing of an agreement to work together between Brighton University and the cricket club. 

Sussex Sharks mascot and Pete the Panter, Brighton University's mascot

Mascots with vice chancellor of Brighton Univeristy, Julian Crampton
and SCCC chief executive, Zac Toumazi

Tuesday saw the inaugural meeting of the Greater Brighton Economic Board which has been formed to deliver the aspirations of our City Deal and economic development projects across the Greater Brighton area. The meeting was held against the backdrop of Brighton & Hove Albion football stadium.  Once again Brighton University was round the table, with leaders from Adur, Worthing, Lewes, Mid Sussex District and of course Brighton & Hove City Council.  Our leader, Jason Kitcat, chaired the meeting.  This ambitious board is going to oversee the delivery of millions of pounds of projects across the Greater Brighton area. It has a forward plan which will look at the visitor economy, the economic outlook, travel to work and travel to learn, training our people, learning from key cities, inward investment and other topics.

That night I returned to caring responsibilities and met my sons in London.  I thought you would enjoy the glorious views of South Bank from the Golden Jubilee bridge.

In case you weren’t aware this week is Carers Week and I was privileged to go and meet some carers and professionals at the carers event at Brighthelm centre on Wednesday. The new Mayor was also there. I heard from carers about their appreciation for the Carers Centre and carers services which support them to maintain loved ones at home, even when in very difficult circumstances.  For this event all sorts of professionals were taking an hour or two out of their busy working days to just go and listen to the stories of carers. Those I spoke to found it a moving and valuable learning experience to be the listeners. The carers I spoke to very much appreciated being listened to, being valued and having somewhere to turn to. 

New mayor Brian Fitch with a resident

On Wednesday evening Sajid Javid MP, Minister for Culture Media and Sports, came to visit Brighton Festival and the Pavilion and I was asked to come and be part of the walk around.

Andrew Comben, Sajid Javid with our guides

The Minister took a real interest in the Royal Pavilion and benefited from a very informative tour from one of the resident guides.  The journalist Polly Toynbee, who is chair of the Brighton Festival & Dome, Andrew Comben, its chief executive, and I were able to tell the Minister about our vision for a reunited Royal Pavilion, Dome and gardens providing the beating heart at the centre of our fabulous city. Once again the themes of collaboration and caring shone through this visit.  

As this is also European elections week, I am writing this while the ballot boxes are being returned to Hove Town Hall for safe storage. We will verify the number of votes cast on Friday morning before counting the votes on Sunday afternoon. This evening I visited some of our polling stations and was universally greeted by enthusiastic polling staff who reported that they had been kept quite busy through the day. The team at Hove Library were happy to be photographed and you see here Sue Coleman, presiding officer and Claire Penfold, polling clerk.  

Claire Penfold and Sue Coleman

Clare Wardle, electoral services manager

At St Philip’s church hall I met a mother with her young daughter. The mother was telling her daughter about the suffragettes  and how women had won the vote and the importance of using the opportunity to vote. I couldn’t agree more.

Finally then, just a word of thanks to those of you who responded to my call for suggestions on improving recycling. I can assure you that the service is already discussing your ideas and I am particularly grateful to one of our street cleaners who sent me a long and very constructive email which I really appreciated and have followed up on. 

All the best
Penny