This year is shaping up to be a big one, with a General Election here, as well as elections in the US.   Here's hoping we end up in a better place by the end of it!

Here are a few of the things which I’ve been working on so far this year. 

Flooding and winter storms

What happens at the Hollingdean City Clean depot affects everyone across Brighton and Hove, because this is the centre of the city’s rubbish and recycling services. So Aileen McColgan KC’s report into bullying and harassment at the depot makes horrendous reading – even suggesting that the problems could constitute abuse and potential criminality.    

Brighton and Hove is currently in the midst of a school’s consultation which is proposing the closure of two deeply cherished schools (St Bartholomew’s C of E School and St Peter’s Community Primary School) along with pupil admission reductions in 9 other schools. The Labour run council’s proposal has been met with much criticism from concerned teachers and parents, including about the wider impact for the affected communities.  

I’m delighted to announce the results in the competition to design the e-greetings card that I’ll send out in the run-up to Christmas

THE WINNING DESIGNS ARE BY:

• FIRST: LARA, AGE 8
• SECOND: OLIVIA, AGE 10
• THIRD: AYMAAN, AGE 6

ALL PICTURED ABOVE.

Students at local primary schools are being encouraged to put pens and paint brushes to paper to design a "Season's  Greetings" card for Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas to send out this winter. 

Pupils from schools in the Brighton Pavilion constituency have until Friday 23rd November to submit designs to their school office. 

The winning design and runner ups will be announced during the week commencing 27 November and will be used for e-cards to be sent out from Caroline’s Westminster office to hundreds of her constituents and other contacts.  

The interim report by Aileen McColgan KC into allegations of bullying and harassment within Brighton and Hove City Council’s City Clean team has finally been published, and it’s deeply shocking.