31/03/2014 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Despite not carrying the majority vote of Green party members, Jason Kitcat was re-elected Convenor of the Green Party on Brighton and Hove City Council after gaining the majority of the votes of Green Councillors.

Leader of the Council: Cllr Jason Kitcat

Councillor Ruth Buckley was elected as deputy for external communications and Councillor Ian Davey was re-elected as internal convenor.

The result was revealed today after a ballot of all councillors and members of the Green party.

The result will be taken to the Annual Council meeting for agreement.

The results are as follow:

Elected:

Cllr Jason Kitcat – Convenor

Cllr Ian Davey – Deputy Convenor (Internal Relations)

Cllr Ruth Buckley – Deputy Convenor (External Relations)

Electoral College

All three positions (Convenor, Deputy Convenor Internal Relations and Deputy Convenor External Relations) were elected under an electoral college system in which the selections of the Green Group of Councillors hold equal weight (50:50) with the selections of the remaining local party membership.

Under this system, and by Single Transferable Vote (STV), the deputy convenors were each elected by a majority of councillors and of members. Councillor Kitcat was elected convenor by an overall majority.

The electoral college breakdown was:

Deputy Convenor Internal Relations

Cllr Ian Davey GG 57.1% Party 47.7% Overall 52.4%

Cllr Liz Wakefield GG 38.1% Party 44.7% Overall 41.4%

RON (re-open nominations) GG 4.8% Party 3.8% Overall 4.3%

These were the second round results, under STV rules. Cllr Leo Littman was eliminated after the first round of voting.

Deputy Convenor External Relations

Cllr Ruth Buckley GG 50% Party 61.8% Overall 55.9%

Cllr Lizzie Deane GG 45% Party 38.2% Overall 41.6%

RON (re-open) GG 5% Party 0.0% Overall 2.5%

Convenor

Cllr Jason Kitcat GG 57.1% Party 45.5% Overall 51.3%

Cllr Phélim Mac Cafferty GG 38.1% Party 53.0% Overall 45.5%

RON (re-open) GG 4.8% Party 1.5% Overall 3.1%

Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty received a majority of member votes and Councillor Kitcat received a majority of the Green Group vote. Under the electoral college system, Councillor Kitcat won the overall vote and was accordingly re-elected as Convenor.

Councillor Jason Kitcat said: “I’d like to thank all candidates who stood in our annual convenor elections. I’m delighted to have been re-elected with the highest ever support from Green Group members. I am committed to working with all Green colleagues through the challenges our city faces in the coming year.”

Councillor Phélim MacCafferty added: “I’m pleased and grateful that I have received the support and confidence of the Green Party membership. A huge thank you to my many supporters. Working with the Green Group I look forward to taking our shared vision forward.”

Exeter based Afghani United were clear winners in Exeter City’s first ever One Game One Community five a side Futsal tournament yesterday (Sunday March 30).

The Afghans won every match they played to lift the inaugural trophy.

Players from local black and minority ethnic communities had been especially invited to participate at the event which was held in the University of Exeter Sports Hall.

Runners up were Plymouth Hope representing a local charity which offers football opportunities to the wider community including under represented ethnic groups and asylum seekers.

Devon Lions, Devon’s gay friendly football team, took third place and Maiwand, another Afghan side from Exeter, won the fair play award.

The event was organised by the Exeter City Supporters Trust backed One Game One Community (Kick it Out) Group. The Group aims to promote equality and diversity through football related initiatives. A regular outdoor summer tournament is held but this is the first time an indoor competition has been organised.

The competition was supported by Exeter City Football in the Community, Devon FA, University of Exeter and the National Citizen Service (NCS).

The referees and administration were provided by the Devon FA and students on Exeter City’s Football in the Community B Tech course. They volunteered to work at the tournament as part of a social action project for their NCS qualification.

Exeter City has close links with Brazilian football having been Brazil’s first ever opponents in 1914. It is fitting therefore that a Futsal tournament has been organised as this indoor version of the game was developed in Brazil in the 1930s. Its name comes from the Portuguese ‘Futebol de salao’ – ‘hall football’.

Martin Weiler, Co-ordinator of the Exeter City One Game One Community Group, said: “Yet again Exeter City has held a successful community event and helped widen participation in the beautiful game.”