03/03/2015 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

City Council announces further measure to ensure clutter free pavements

Posted on 03/03/201504/03/2015 by Paul Gustafson

A new initiative to keep pavements and footways clear for pedestrians is being launched by Brighton & Hove City Council.

THE council will be marking out areas outside city centre restaurants and cafes to ensure that tables and chairs remain within permitted boundaries. The scheme will also be used for outdoor shop displays and advertising boards.

The council hopes the move will improve safety for all pedestrians but particularly those with buggies, wheelchairs and visually impaired people.

Highway enforcement officers will begin visiting businesses in April to re-measure the licensed areas and mark them with anti-slip tape. The Council is hoping to have all outside seating areas, shop displays and advertising boards marked out by October.

Any business within the city’s licensing zones wishing to place an advertising board, shop display or outside seating on the public highway must apply to the council for a licence. Licences are issued for a maximum of 12 months and are reviewed annually.

Last year Brighton & Hove City Council issued 440 licences for A boards and 280 for tables and chairs. In addition, 1,497 scaffolding licences were issued by the council.

The council’s robust approach to licensing has resulted in a drop in complaints this year. In particular, complaints about A boards fell from 70 to 48 and tables and chairs from 53 to 36. Complaints about scaffolding also fell from 153 to 38.

The council hopes that the new measures will go even further to reduce complaints and increase safety.

Cllr Stephanie Powell, chair of the licensing committee, said: “Outdoor seating, advertising boards and shop displays are important marketing tools for businesses and add to the vibrant street scene in Brighton & Hove.

“However, the safety of pedestrians is our utmost priority and we must do everything we can to ensure that pavements are kept free from clutter particularly for those with young children or who are sight or mobility impaired.

“We are confident that by marking the footways we can work with businesses to keep tables, chairs and other obstructions from straying beyond the permitted boundaries and causing an obstruction.

“By working together in this way we can provide a safer, welcoming and more pleasant city centre environment for all our residents and visitors.”

A report outlining the scheme will be presented to the council’s licensing committee on March 5.

Labour budget adopted for third year running

Posted on 03/03/201504/03/2015 by Besi

Pride Community Parade grant of £20,000 protected for another year.

Cllr Warren Morgan: Leader of Labour and Co-operative group

AFTER failing to set a budget for 2015-16 at the Council’s six hour budget meeting last Thursday, (February 26), City Councillors reconvened today to try once again.

They took just 30 minutes to adopt Labour’s joint budget amendment proposals which will result in an increase of 1.99% in the Brighton & Hove element of the Council Tax.

The vote was 26 for the joint amendment, nineteen against with two abstentions.

The adopted budget tackles inequality and reflects the challenging reduction in funding from Government, protects services for residents, visitors and businesses, whilst continuing to invest in preventive work in social care and public health.

Councillor Warren Morgan, Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group, said: “I’m pleased for residents that enough Greens ultimately saw sense and voted with Labour to set a Budget. Alongside our amendment to secure funding for children’s centres, voluntary sector organisations, domestic violence refuges, public toilets and more, we are pleased with the result that delivers the kind of outcomes residents have told us they want. We are disappointed that the Conservatives would not negotiate to back our efforts to freeze parking charges.”

“I condemn the Militant Greens and the Conservative Group for pushing us to the brink of handing control of our local services to Government-appointed commissioners, who would have inflicted cuts even deeper and faster than already imposed by this Conservative government. Once again common sense has prevailed and for the second year in a row, Labour has set the Budget. If elected in May we can get to work rebuilding a council that works for all residents and every neighbourhood across the city.”

Cllr Jason Kitcat: Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council

Council Leader Jason Kitcat said: I’m very pleased that councillors have come to agreement and set a budget today. There are still challenging things in that budget that we need to do but also important services that have been protected and I look forward to moving forward. There are difficult times still ahead though.”

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, Leader of the Conservative Group, added: “It is incredibly disappointing that, despite our council tax freeze budget getting the highest number of votes last Thursday, the Labour Party is still unwilling to compromise and work with us, despite them being the smallest Group on the Council.

“It is so depressing, though completely predictable, that Labour and the Greens have abandoned full reform and modernisation of Cityclean to put it on a proper business footing and also our proposed restructuring of senior management and the Assistant Chief Executive’s service.”

Among other things the budget settlement protects the Pride Parade grant of £20,000, saves the Mayoralty from being scaled down by the Greens and protects under threat children’s centres from closure.

Labour launch manifesto for May local elections

Posted on 03/03/2015 by Besi

Labour and Cooperative launched their manifesto for the local elections this evening, (March 3) at Donetello’s restaurant in Brighton.

SPECIAL guest speaker, the former Secretary of State for Health and member for West Hull and Hessle, Alan Johnson MP was delayed on the train from London so Cllr Warren Morgan, the Labour group leader took the opportunity to thank all volunteers and councillors present for their hard work getting ready for the election and informed them that earlier in the afternoon, for the third year running, the Labour budget proposal for 2015-16 had been adopted. The manifesto was launched and everyone sat down for dinner awaiting the arrival of Mr Johnson.

Cllr Warren Morgan, said: “Our city is crying out for change. We need a city council that works, with clear purpose and strong leadership to make sure that basic services residents rely on are delivered.

“We need a council that works for you and your neighbourhood, that works for you and your family, that works for you and your business. We need a council that works with the public, private and voluntary sectors to build a better Brighton and Hove together.

“We need a council that delivers secure and well paid jobs, new and excellent schools, and many more truly affordable homes.

“We need a council that works for every resident in every part of the city, from Portslade to Patcham, Hangleton to Saltdean, Westbourne to Moulsecoomb, not just the city centre.

“The Greens have let the city down, and have proven they are not up to the job. No other party is offering the credible and sensible plan that we are setting out in our manifesto today.

“Even in these challenging financial times for local councils, there is so much we can do if given the chance, and Labour has a team ready to get to work for the city. Vote us in on May 7th and Labour will deliver a council that works for you.”

Labour’s key manifesto pledges include:

• Ensuring cleaner streets, better recycling and a reliable refuse collection service.

• Ending youth unemployment.

• Building 500 new council homes.

• Suspending and reviewing the traffic schemes started by the Greens, and returning to a more sensible and better managed approach to transport planning.

• Delivering new rights for tenants and proper regulation of landlords.

• Tackling poverty and inequality through a Fairness Commission.

Kemptown MP supports campaign against homophobic bullying

Posted on 03/03/201503/03/2015 by Besi

Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has announced his support for the ‘So What’ campaign.

THE campaign which was started by Stuart Hatton, the winner of Mr Gay World 2014, seeks to combat homophobic bullying in schools and has a simple message: “Some of us have green eyes, some of us have blue eyes. Some of us are straight, some of us are gay…So What?”.

Stuart, is hoping through the campaign to draw attention to the issue of homophobic bullying, and is calling for action on this especially in schools, with 9 out of 10 teachers in the UK claiming that they are aware of it taking place in their school.

Mr Kirby has taken a close interest in the issue and took part in last years Stonewall Equality Walk in Brighton to raise money to help combat homophobic bullying in schools and he has previously written to the Education Secretary to call for more work to be done on the issue.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr Kirby said: “Homophobic bullying is completely unacceptable, and is unfortunately still a reality for children and staff in too many schools across the UK. Whilst there has been welcome progress on reducing the prevalence of homophobic bullying, there is still more that needs to be done.

“This is why I am proud to support the ‘So What’ campaign, as I believe that there needs to not only be a greater public awareness of this problem, but also further action to help see prejudice and abuse on the grounds of sexual orientation become a thing of the past.”

For more information about the campaign, click here:

Brighton Council Leader wins national award

Posted on 03/03/2015 by Besi

Cllr Jason Kitcat, has been honoured for his contribution to local government at a national awards ceremony.

Cllr Jason Kitcat: Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council

THE Green leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, won the Judges Special Award for Contribution to Local Government at the sixth annual LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) Councillor Achievement Awards.

The award ceremony held yesterday evening, Monday March 2, in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour, at Westminster City Council are the only national platform to honour the hard work of councillors across the country.

With nearly 200 nominations, competition was described by the LGIU as “extremely tight this year”.

The winners were selected by a group of judges made up of local government experts and councillors. Cllr Kitcat’s award was unanimously agreed by the judging panel in recognition of the huge number of achievements the Greens had been able to deliver.

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU said: “It is a real privilege to honour the outstanding efforts of these Councillors who work day in and day out to make our communities healthier, our streets safer and our public services stronger.

“The 2015 Councillor Award winners have set the bar for all Councillors with their exemplary leadership and passion for change. We congratulate them and look forward to hearing about their future success.”

Jason Kitcat has been leader of B&H City Council since May 2012, overseeing the tenure of the UK’s first Green administration for the last three years, however, he will not be seeking re-election at the local elections in May.

Cllr. Kitcat said: “I’m delighted to receive this award and the spotlight that it shines on Brighton & Hove as the UK’s first Green-led city. In spite of being a minority administration, faced with the most severe and relentless funding cuts ever made by central government, we and our partners have been successful in protecting vital services while drawing in substantial investment for innovative projects which are helping to keep Brighton going as a successful economy and top visitor destination.”

Calls for safety crossing grow

Posted on 03/03/201503/03/2015 by Besi

Over 340 local residents have signed a petition calling for improvements to road safety near St Lukes Primary school on Queen’s Park Rise, Brighton.

FAYE Bridgewater a local mother assisted by local Queen’s Park Labour council candidates Karen Barford and Adrian Morris began the campaign when told that local parents were struggling to get their children to school safely.

Nancy Platts Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven joined the campaign and echoed the calls from local parents.

Nancy said: “There’s a clear need for a crossing at this location, Faye is a mum on a mission and I think the the Green-led Council need to respond to the genuine concerns of local parents”

Faye Bridgewater said: “It seems so silly that I’m having to petition the council for something so sensible. It’s clearly a busy road that lots of people need to cross. It’s an historical problem and parents have been asking for a crossing for years.”

Karen Barford Queens Park Labour council candidate, concluded: “As a mum and grandma, I know all too well the dangers of crossing busy roads with little ones, which is why I fully support such a worthy campaign. I am inspired by local resident Faye Bridgwater who demonstrates such passion and commitment to improve safety on Freshfield Road for the benefit of local people.”

To sign the petition, click here:

Urban World comes to Brighton Pride

Posted on 03/03/201503/03/2015 by Besi

Brighton Pride will be bringing the world to Preston Park this summer to celebrate Pride in The City with a spectacular Carnival of Diversity.

THIS year the Urban Dance Tent will be curated by Urban World Events, a unique collaboration between some of the most ethnically diverse club events in the UK.

The internationally acclaimed clubs joining Pride and the Urban Dance Tent will include Work, the UK’s premier urban LGBT club night that has hosted 1,000 capacity events at Heaven, Hidden and Area playing the best in R’n’B, hip-hop, soca, afrobeat and bashment and whose promoter the infamous Patrick Lilley has a long history of community activism raising funds for the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Campaign, and serving on the board of UK Black Pride.

The Urban World Dance Tent will also host Urban Desi, the UK’s most exciting “gaysian” club night celebrating an exciting mix of Bhangra, Bollywood, Giddha and Desi.

Plus Brighton Pride will be welcoming Exilio, the UK’s exciting LGBT Latino dance club known for its world-class nights of reggaeton, salsa and meringue.

The soundtrack of Urban World will reflect the tastes of its component clubs Work, Urban Desi and Exilio with an added Brighton Pride carnival twist ensuring it is one of the the most diverse and celebratory areas on Preston Park.

Event: Pride Brighton & Hove 2015: Pride Festival Preston Park, Brighton

Where: Preston Park Brighton

Time: 12 noon – 10pm

Cost: Early Birds Sold Out: £16.00 advance (first release): The advance £18.50/ £21.00.

Joint tickets are available for Preston Park Festival and Village Party.

To book online, click here:

Come on Boys – show us your balls!

Posted on 03/03/201503/03/2015 by Besi

Brighton Big Balls is back to protect those man parts.

NOW in its third year, Brighton’s premier comedy run returns on May 10 in aid of male cancer charity Orchid.

Orchid is the UK’s specialist male cancer charity focusing on Prostate, Penile and Testicular Cancers.

Dave Samuel, organiser & Brighton Big Balls big chief said: “It’s only a short distance so a great event for everyone to get involved in. You don’t have to be particular fit to take part – laughing seems to be more the order of the day than running for this comedy-exercise!”

The event sees entrants stumble over the beaches, groynes and man-made comedy obstacles of Hove whilst carrying two large gym balls under their arms.

The race number on the entrants hand matches the number on their balls and they must finish with their own balls. Apart from that – there are no rules!

Local businesses donate to the charity in return for putting their own obstacles on route. Infamous impediments in previous years have included the comedy Ninja’s with boxing gloves on 8’ long poles, Water bomb alley, running through buckets of wall-paper-paste into buckets of cornflakes and fitting through hanging hoops on the beach – all whilst trying to retain their balls.

Competitors are allowed and encouraged to boost each other’s balls beach-ward. Organised chaos reigns supreme as friends and foes fumble to find their own balls amid the comedy carnage.

Brighton Big Balls has a loyal and increasing fan base as it’s also become a spectator sport too.

Although clearly aimed at men, lots of women also take part to show support. However ladies are asked to wear a comedy moustache and run in a “manly-manner”.

The female competitors even have their own competition for the best moustache of the day (but real ones are automatically disqualified).

Online registration costs £25.

Entrants are then expected to raise sponsorship via the charity just-giving page.

For more information and to register, click here:

FaceBook: Brighton Big Balls

Twitter: @brightonbigball

New musical director for Brighton Belles Women’s Chorus

Posted on 03/03/2015 by Besi

Brighton Belles Women’s Chorus have secured the services of Marc Yarrow, Musical Director of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

MARC will be assisting the Belles with musical direction, voice training and general fabulousness.

The Brighton Belles are always open to new members and remain a non-audition singing group.

The Belles meet in the chapel of The Royal Sussex County Hospital on Mondays at 7-30pm.

The Belles aim is to make as much money for charity as they can, whilst making great music, forming lasting friendships and having fun.

Warning: Rehearsals may contain hysteria and badly behaved singing women.

For more information about the Belles, click here:

Marbles Match and Easter Bonnet Parade at Abbey Green, Battle, Sussex

Posted on 03/03/2015 by Besi

The game of marbles is over 3000 years old, with clay marbles having been found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians.

THE game remains alive and kicking in a number of Sussex towns.

Sussex marbles season lasts for 45 days and in the last century was very closely defined between Ash Wednesday and 12 noon on Good Friday, so much so that Good Friday (and in some places Ash Wednesday) were known as ‘Marbles Day’.

At Lenten time toy shop windows displayed tops, skipping ropes, hoops and marbles. These colourful tiny balls of clay, stone and glass were the main attraction to both young and old alike. One of these towns is Battle, East Sussex, site of the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Every Good Friday, in the imposing shadow of Battle Abbey local teams gather to play in this traditional annual competition dating back to the early 1900s and revived in Battle in 1948, with lady entrants permitted for the first time in 1972.

The traditional Sussex smock was ‘de rigueur’ (or brown short fishermens’ smocks as these were easier to obtain) until the early 1950s and the game ended at noon sharp when marbles and hot cross buns were handed out to the local children. The smock of the late Frank Anderson, who died in 1967, can be seen in the Battle Museum of Local History, along with a small display of marbles and photos.

The Rev W. D. Parish wrote in 1879 about the game as played at Selmeston, East Sussex,
“I always wondered why so many people in the country districts of Sussex should devote themselves to marbles on Good Friday, till I discovered that the marble season is strictly defined between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; and on the last day of the season it seems to be the object of every man and boy to play marbles as much as possible: they will play in the road at the church gate till the very last moment before service, and begin again the instant they are out of church. Is it possible that it was appointed as a Lenten sport, to keep people from more boisterous and mischievous enjoyments?”

Nowadays, local pubs and businesses enter teams of 5 players and fancy dress has replaced the traditional smocks. The number of entrants has risen to over 120, all eager to win both the marbles and the fancy dress competitions.

There is the popular all-comers board for spectators of all ages to give marbles a try and, as tradition dictates, there’s a free children’s marble scramble at noon with 1000 marbles up for grabs at the end of the competition. Easter eggs now replace the hot cross buns that used to be given out and there is a separate Easter bonnet competition for the children, with last year’s entry numbers reaching 65.

‘Flick-off’ is at 10 am on Good Friday, April 3 2015.

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Day: March 3, 2015

City Council announces further measure to ensure clutter free pavements

A new initiative to keep pavements and footways clear for pedestrians is being launched by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Labour budget adopted for third year running

Pride Community Parade grant of £20,000 protected for another year.

Labour launch manifesto for May local elections

Labour and Cooperative launched their manifesto for the local elections this evening, (March 3) at Donetello’s restaurant in Brighton.

Kemptown MP supports campaign against homophobic bullying

Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has announced his support for the ‘So What’ campaign.

Brighton Council Leader wins national award

Cllr Jason Kitcat, has been honoured for his contribution to local government at a national awards ceremony.

Calls for safety crossing grow

Over 340 local residents have signed a petition calling for improvements to road safety near St Lukes Primary school on Queen’s Park Rise, Brighton.

Urban World comes to Brighton Pride

Brighton Pride will be bringing the world to Preston Park this summer to celebrate Pride in The City with a spectacular Carnival of Diversity.

Come on Boys – show us your balls!

Brighton Big Balls is back to protect those man parts.

New musical director for Brighton Belles Women’s Chorus

Brighton Belles Women’s Chorus have secured the services of Marc Yarrow, Musical Director of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

Marbles Match and Easter Bonnet Parade at Abbey Green, Battle, Sussex

The game of marbles is over 3000 years old, with clay marbles having been found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians.

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A new initiative to keep pavements and footways clear for pedestrians is being launched by Brighton & Hove City Council.

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Pride Community Parade grant of £20,000 protected for another year.

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Labour and Cooperative launched their manifesto for the local elections this evening, (March 3) at Donetello’s restaurant in Brighton.

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Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has announced his support for the ‘So What’ campaign.

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Cllr Jason Kitcat, has been honoured for his contribution to local government at a national awards ceremony.

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Over 340 local residents have signed a petition calling for improvements to road safety near St Lukes Primary school on Queen’s Park Rise, Brighton.

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Brighton Pride will be bringing the world to Preston Park this summer to celebrate Pride in The City with a spectacular Carnival of Diversity.

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Brighton Big Balls is back to protect those man parts.

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Brighton Belles Women’s Chorus have secured the services of Marc Yarrow, Musical Director of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

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The game of marbles is over 3000 years old, with clay marbles having been found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians.

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