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.
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.”