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GP surgeries due to close, extend required notice period

The Practice Group of GP surgeries have announced they will continue to provide services beyond their required notice period at each of the 5 surgeries in Brighton and Hove they have announced they are withdrawing from.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven
Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

Following the decision by The Practice Group to close 5 GP surgeries in the city, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, alongside Peter Kyle, MP for Hove & Portslade and Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, met with NHS England and Brighton & Hove Community Care Group, to discuss the future of the 5 GP surgeries, three of which are in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.

Welcoming the news, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Portslade, said: “I am pleased that The Practice Group has agreed to extend their notice period. This will allow NHS England time to find the best solution for patients.

“I also welcome the news that they are carrying out a procurement process to secure a contract with another healthcare provider to take over the service at the Brighton Homeless Healthcare Surgery in Morley Street from January 2017 when The Practice Group stops providing care.”

 

Brighton Kemptown MP calls for Saltdean Oval public toilets to remain open

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, calls on City Council to rethink plans to close public toilets at Saltdean Oval.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

Simon said: “I have been contacted by numerous constituents, and Saltdean Residents’ Association, with their concerns about the council’s plans. In particular, local residents who use the bowling green, skate park and children’s play park are worried that they may no longer be able to do so if these facilities are closed.

“The council should be making back room savings and reducing senior officers’ salaries before they even consider making cuts to much-needed frontline services such as these. I hope that they reconsider their decision and keep these toilets open.”

 

Lib Dem’s guarantee London Pride funding will continue if elected

Caroline Pidgeon
Caroline Pidgeon

Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London Caroline Pidgeon says she will guarantee to continue funding London Pride at the current level of £100,000 for the whole of the next Mayoral term when elected.

Caroline says she would also use City Hall resources to explore further corporate sponsorship for Pride by ensuring City Hall match-funds pound for pound all additional corporate sponsorship beyond that secured last year up to an additional £50,000.

Caroline Pidgeon

Caroline, who marches regularly at London Pride with London Liberal Democrat members, said: “London is home to people from many different backgrounds who come together as one of the most diverse and tolerant cities in the world. London’s LGBT+ community is a vital part of our city’s appeal and success, and the London Liberal Democrats have a long and proud history of supporting and championing it. 

“Pride is an essential cultural celebration for the LGBT+ community. Not only the march, but also all the many hundreds of events that surround it bring hundreds of thousands of visitors into London every year and we should so all that we can to ensure the event continues for many years to come.”

Brighton Kemptown MP signs Holocaust Educational Trust Book of Commitment

Yesterday, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment at the House of Commons.

Simon Kirby, MP Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven
Simon Kirby, MP Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

In doing so he pledged his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people.

Wednesday January 27 will mark the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.

In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged across the country by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Simon said: “Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau  and is an important opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and make sure they are not forgotten. I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join members of my community in the fight against prejudice and intolerance.”

Karen Pollock MBE
Karen Pollock MBE

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added: “We are proud that Simon Kirby MP is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. As we mark the 71st anniversary of the end of the Holocaust and the liberation of the concentration camps, it is vitally important that we both continue to remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust – as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.

Holocaust Memorial Day was established following an MP’s visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Moved by his visit, Andrew Dismore MP proposed a bill, “to introduce a day to learn and remember the Holocaust” on 30 June 1999.

The theme for the UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2016 is ‘Don’t Stand By’.

For more information about UK Holocaust Memorial Day, click here:

East Sussex MPs meet Highways England

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven along with other East Sussex MPs met Highways England yesterday to discuss improvements to A27.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

In 2015, The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £75 million of funding for improvements to the A27.  Mr Kirby organised a meeting in November with Transport Minister Andrew Jones MP and other East Sussex MPs, councillors and council officers to discuss the best way to spend the money.

All present clarified their desire that the money be put towards a large-scale, ambitious project to alleviate current capacity and safety issues.

Mr Kirby said: “As Chair of the A27 Reference Group, I was pleased to be able to have this meeting yesterday with Highways England to discuss improvements to the A27.  We are working on a long-term plan to improve the road and I am hoping that these improvements will ease some of the pressure from the A259 in my constituency.”

Conservatives call on Labour to ‘Save the Park Rangers’

Conservatives on Brighton & Hove City Council call on Labour Administration to abandon plans to cut the number of Park Rangers employed by the City from 9 to 3 in the 2016-17 budget.

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald

Concerns about the plans have been expressed by residents, volunteers and conservationists culminating in the presentation of a deputation at today’s (January 19) Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee meeting at Portslade Town Hall by a group of volunteers.

Cllr. Geoffrey Theobald, Leader of the Conservative Group, introduced Park Rangers to the City when he was Cabinet Member for the Environment in 2009.

He said: “These proposed cuts to the Park Ranger service are a false economy and threaten all the great work that has been achieved in recent years in terms of conservation and improving the city’s highly valued parks and green spaces. We urge the Labour Administration to seriously rethink their plans ahead of the Budget Council meeting next month.”

Cllr Tony Janio
Cllr Tony Janio

Cllr. Tony Janio, Conservative Group Spokesman on Environment, Transport and Sustainability, added: “Without a properly staffed Park Ranger service the army of wonderful conservation volunteers that we have in the city will simply not be able to carry on with all the excellent work they currently do, particularly around protecting our internationally important chalk grassland habitat. They are one of the main reasons Brighton & Hove managed to secure the prestigious UNESCO Biosphere status and to put that at risk would be sheer folly.”

Brighton Kemptown MP attends rail taskforce meeting

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, attended the South East Quadrant Taskforce meeting today with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Claire Perry MP.

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

He was joined by 20 other MPs from the region and senior members of Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Transport Focus and the Department for Transport’s Passenger Services team.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for MPs to ask questions on behalf of their constituents about the causes of the recent service performance and review the plan for delivering a better service for rail customers on GTR’s Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express routes.

Simon said: “Brighton commuters and taxpayers are incredibly frustrated and unhappy with the service being provided. Even today, train services on the Brighton line suffered more disruption making it a very frustrating morning for all concerned.”

The summit covered driver shortages, poor rolling stock, antiquated working practices and substandard infrastructure with network rail often too slow to repair faults and programmed maintenance.

Commenting on the meeting Simon, said: “I really do understand people’s anger and frustration although in fairness up until now we have seen decades of under investment. This is one of the busiest railways in Europe and it is clear that hard-working commuters expect and deserve better services.

“As a regular user of the Brighton to London line, I am well aware of the shortcomings of the service and the problems with lateness and cancellations that commuters have to deal with on an almost daily basis. I have been contacted by many unhappy constituents who have suffered disrupted journeys and I am glad that MPs have this opportunity to insist on improved reliability, seating and customer services on and around the Brighton Mainline.”

 

New LGBT chair for Local District Labour Party

Lloyd Russell-Moyle a member of LGBT Labour was overwhelming elected as Labour’s new District chair at a meeting at City College over ther weekend, attended by more than 250 people.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle
Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Lloyd replaces Nancy Platts, Labour’s candidate for Kemptown & Peacehaven at the last general election who had been appointed as the Labour Party’s Trade Union Liaison officer in Westminster.

Lloyd was born in Brighton and grew up in Lewes, where he attended the local primary school, comprehensive secondary and the FE college Sussex Downs. He worked nights at Tescos, the Rainbow Pub in Lewes (next to the law courts) and then East Sussex County Council before taking on work outside of the area.

In 2014 he stood for council in Lewes and then in 2015 for Parliament, doubling Labour’s vote in the Lewes constituency. Lloyd currently lives in Brighton Kemp Town and works in advocacy on youth and sustainable development.

Members present at the weekend meeting endorsed councillors ambitious plans for over 1500 new homes in the city.

Party members agreed to support councillors in the Labour administration who are setting a balanced budget whilst at the same time developing plans to campaign and confront the cuts the Conservative government is imposing on the city.

The meeting resolved that the spending cuts to local government were “politically motivated and not economically necessary”.

Following the meeting newly elected Chair, Lloyd Russell-Moyle said: “It was clear that the vast majority of members are united to take the campaign against Tory cuts into our local communities whilst recognising the hard work our councillors are doing in developing our city after years of neglect by other parties”.

Cllr Warren Morgan
Cllr Warren Morgan

Warren Morgan, Leader of Brighton & Hove Council, added: “I’m delighted that members are supporting our councillors and our ambitious plan for house building which will ensure 500 council houses and up to 2000 new homes offered at social rates, being truly affordable with rents no higher than 40% of income for those on minimum wage”.

The Labour Party in Brighton, Hove and District meets monthly at all member meetings where local wards, affiliated organisations and individual members put forward proposals for the party and discuss pressing issues with their elected representatives.

Next meeting will take place in the evening of the February 10, 2016 for discussions with potential Labour candidates for the Sussex Police Crime Commissioner elections to be held later this year.

 

System for planning school places “essentially broken” says Hove MP

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade says system is essentially broken as deadline for school places passes.

Peter Kyle MP for Hove & Portslade
Peter Kyle MP for Hove & Portslade

New analysis published by the Labour Party reveals the Government’s approach to planning for school places across the country is failing.

To cope with pressure on places, in Sussex alone, more than 26,000 primary children are being accommodated in super-size classes.

Mr Kyle said: “It is clear that the Government’s approach is not working for parents and children across Sussex.  Soaring numbers of children in the area will continue to be crammed into ever-expanding classes, as the only option left for many schools. Some families applying today will go straight onto a waiting list with no offer of any school place.

“The current system for planning new places is essentially broken. It is time for a parent/student-focused solution which will drive up standards, and put the urgent need for sufficient good school places in Sussex first.”

He continued: “In their 2010 manifesto, the Conservative Party promised to create “small schools with smaller class sizes” and David Cameron has said “The more we can get class sizes down the better”. Yet in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, West Sussex the number of pupils in classes of size 31-35 taught by one teacher is 26,325. The number of pupils in classes of size 36+ taught by one teacher is 988 and the number of pupils in key stage 1 classes of size 31-35 taught by one teacher is 3742.”

Labour’s housing budget voted down

Green and Tory councillors on the Housing & New Homes Committee joined forces this week to vote down Labour’s proposed housing budget for 2015/16.

Cllr David Gibson
Cllr David Gibson

The Housing Revenue Account budget, which sets out income and expenditure from council housing, proposed a number of cuts and increased service charges for council housing tenants.

Both parties expressed concerns over the poor level of consultation on the council’s proposals as well as cuts to the Playbus, community grants and dramatic changes to the major works programme.

During the committee meeting, Greens secured support for an amendment committing the council to urgent consultation with tenant representatives on the budget, as well as a detailed programme of consultation for the future 2017/18 budget.

Greens condemned proposals in the budget which would see a 99% cut from a planned investment in home insulation from over £5m in 2014/15 to £50,000 in 2015/16, saying it was a “significant step backwards which runs counter to the city’s Housing Strategy”.

During committee discussions the Council’s planning committee was blamed for refusing an application for home insulation, and Labour’s housing spokesperson said “it was a shame” that some residents would not be able to live in energy-efficient homes. Greens said this was a “weak excuse”, and that there were many other Council blocks where improvements could still be made to improve energy efficiency.

The plans to cut budgets for energy efficiency measures follow a raft of Labour proposals in the General Fund budget which Greens says will see significant increases in long-term environmental damage caused by the Council alongside failure to invest in environmental improvements.

Greens say anti-environment measures proposed or introduced so far include reductions in renewable energy usage, cuts to park rangers and cuts to the councils sustainability team.

Green councillor and spokesperson for housing, David Gibson, said: “When I met with tenant representatives this week, they all expressed dissatisfaction that they were being sidelined in developing the housing budget, and called for more consultation this year and next. Unfortunately, Labour are once again failing to consult and listen, this time to tenants on how money from their rental payments should be spent. 

“We were pleased to see our amendment passed at committee, meaning that tenants who pay for the housing service will now get more of a chance to have a say on this year’s and next year’s budget. While it feels too little, too late for this year’s budget, we hope it will give tenants some chance to be involved, and puts us on a stronger footing to ensure Labour consult properly on next year’s budget. 

“Cuts to insulation in this budget would hit vulnerable people the hardest, with many struggling to afford to heat their homes.   It would also see energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions rise at a time when significant reductions are needed to comply with our international obligations. Labour yet again has shown its short-sightedness when it comes to budget planning, and its lack of regard for families facing financial difficulty.

“When in administration, the Greens invested substantial sums to improve Council housing, so that 100% of all council-owned homes are now classed as decent homes, well above levels in the private sector.  This has driven down energy bills for some of the poorest residents in the city.  However there is still much to do, which is why Greens pledged to invest £7m in 2016/17 if elected.  Sadly, Labour has seen fit to bring investment to a halt, despite a compelling fuel poverty and environmental case”.

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