Page 15 - Mac Cafferty News Today

Despite the reservations and the challenges, Councillor Mac Cafferty is keen to see a “return to normality”. He said: “When they are safe to do so, I want meetings in person once again, mainly because it will represent some welcome return to normality. “For me, the atmosphere is flat through screens – and atmosphere is key to democracy and good decision-making. “Being called into back-to-back online meetings from 8am to 7pm day after day is probably the fantasy of a programm...

A COUNCILLOR has slammed Brighton as a "filthy dump" after a 12-day deep clean missed out a number of areas of the city. Conservative Councillor Dawn Barnett said parts of Brighton had missed out, as workers jet washed the city centre to get it ready for the easing of Covid restrictions Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said he was "disappointed" by the comments that came "at a time when we are coming together as a city to safely welcome visitors back". Cityclean staff worked through t...

Campaigners urge people to help pick up thousands of balls which have washed up on Brighton beach.

Crowds hit the beach on Tuesday. Photo: Simon Dack However, even if additional bins do become full, residents are urged to find a bin that is not full or to take their rubbish home. Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “The easing of lockdown and warm weather has meant thousands of people gathering on the beach and seafront, leading to a huge build-up of extra waste. "There’s cautious optimism as our focus remains on how we re-open in a safe way but we all have to play our part t...

The legal threat is understood to have come from a Rise service user. The committee also received a report which said that a cross-party working group should have been set up in 2018 to oversee the commissioning process – but this never happened. Even if it had been set up, councillors would not have been involved in evaluating the contract bids and, the committee was told, procurement law required councils to select the best tender. The report said: “Awarding public contracts is ti...

THE Green Party have announced their candidate for the upcoming by-election in Patcham ward. Brighton and Hove City Council’s leading party, have today confirmed Eliza Wyatt as candidate for the by election in May. It follows the announcement of Conservative Councillor Lee Wares’ resignation last month. Patcham ward is currently represented by three conservative councillors and is within Brighton Pavilion parliamentary constituency represented by Green MP Caroline Lucas. Mrs Wyatt h...

A DOMESTIC abuse charity that lost a £5 million contract has hit back against claims it needs to do more to support men.

Senior councillors shared their shock when the situation was raised at a budget meeting. And they promised to look into the decision that will lead to Rise being replaced by Victim Support and the social housing provider Stonewater. Rise has run refuge and helpline services in Brighton and Hove for the past 26 years. Domestic abuse survivors put together a website and started a petition which was signed by more than 20,000 people in just six days. Last week, councillors were told in...

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused "unprecedented damage" to the night time economy in Brighton, council bosses have said.

THE budget black hole created by the response to the coronavirus pandemic has been filled for the time being, senior councillors were told.