I’m asking for capital investment in homes and active travel and revenue spending to support fire safety, local authority support for young people, and teachers in further education.

See my full letter below.

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See my full submission to the local consultation below:

The post My submission to Brighton and Hove City Council’s consultation on Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit.   appeared first on Siân Berry MP.

See my full objection letter below:

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Read the letter in full here:

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See her letter and the Secretary of State’s response below.

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I have made calls for new action to reduce the harm caused by gambling in the city.

My proposals were sent in response to the consultation on Brighton and Hove City Council’s draft Gambling Policy for 2025-27.

In my submission, I requested a meeting with local councillors to discuss possible areas of joint work and proposed a range of actions the council should take to reduce the harm done by gambling in Brighton and Hove, including: [1] 

>> A ‘one in one out’ policy for gambling premises in the city, with further reductions if problem gambling increases.

>> A local ban on the advertising of gambling on every billboard, bus stop, and any other ‘outdoor’ advertising sites within the city, including on buses. 

>> More data collection locally to measure the harm being done to vulnerable people and children.

>> Work with MPs and other councils to push for a country-wide ban on gambling company advertising, plus restrictions on sports sponsorship.

>> An end to the exception made for sports broadcasts in enforcing the watershed on TV advertising for gambling companies.

In the response, I say:  

“We have clear evidence that gambling harms are increasing. We have a large number of the gambling establishments in the city and, along with the large amount of advertising that takes place for the major bookmakers and – increasingly – high street slot machine outlets, these premises create a real risk of harm to those who already have problems with gambling, and to children and wider society.

“In addition, advertising for online gambling is also prevalent in the city, and it is common for adults and children to see these adverts online as well. As a licensing authority with a duty to work towards the protection of: “children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling,” the council should be seeking to reduce all kinds of harm in every way it can.”

Recent data has shown that problem gambling may be much more prevalent than previously estimated.  Using new methodology, surveys from Public Health England show that 2.5 per cent of adults responding scored 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), compared with less than half a per cent previously. [2] 

Based on the Office for National Statistics’ latest population estimates, this would imply that over one million adults in Great Britain are now problem gamblers and, if the same proportion holds here, more than 5,000 adults in Brighton and Hove. 

The National Gambling Helpline also hit record-breaking service levels in 2023, receiving more calls and online chats than any previous year. A total of 52,370 calls and online chats were made to the Helpline, a 24 per cent increase compared with the year before, and August 2023 was the busiest month on record. December 2023 also saw a 39 per cent increase compared with the same month the year before, and this was the busiest Christmas period ever recorded by the helpline.

References:

1. Full submission to the consultation: https://sianberry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/248/2024/09/2024_09_15_BHCC_Gambling_Policy_2025_27_response.pdf
2. Gambling participation and the prevalence of problem gambling survey: Final experimental statistics stage (Step 3) (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)

The post Calling for more curbs on gambling premises in the city, and a ban on gambling adverts from council and government appeared first on Siân Berry MP.

I’ve raised this with the Chief Executive of the council and Cabinet Member, Housing and New Homes.

Read my letter below:

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Dear Gill,

I hope that you are well.

I’m writing regarding Acorn’s Boot the Bailiff campaign to ask that Brighton and Hove City Council commits to reviewing its bailiff contract and sets a goal of dramatically reducing its use of bailiffs to collect council tax arrears, and reviews its council tax policy to prevent more residents from running up debts they simply cannot afford.

Acorn can provide significant testimony from local residents about their experience of bailiff use and how this has caused additional distress and exacerbated vulnerabilities for people already experiencing hardship, rather than supporting them to find workable ways forward with arrears.

I’m aware that Citizens Advice previously collected evidence about the ineffectiveness of bailiff use in relation to Council Tax arrears, which further serves to highlight bailiff use is poor value for money. More humane and cooperative methods for negotiating with residents who have arrears is better for everyone and I strongly believe the council should consider it.

I’m very open to hearing from BHCC if you think that there are remaining barriers within national legislation which it would be helpful for me to raise with Ministers. However, I am aware of several local authorities which have already committed to amending their approach in response to the campaign, including Bristol and Hammersmith and Fulham.

In addition, in the council I previously sat on in Camden, I was successful in working with Child Poverty Action Group to persuade the council to reinstate a zero rate of council tax for those most in need in 2017, which led to a dramatic reduction in arrears for those who simply could not pay, and a large reduction in bailiff use. I am therefore also asking that the council looks at its overall council tax reduction scheme policy, and it would be positive news if Brighton and Hove City Council would commit to similar action in response to the work Acorn is doing.

If you are also able to confirm the date BHCC’s current bailiff contract ends in reply, it would also be helpful, as I am keen to have further information about the current position regarding dates and opportunities for this to be reviewed and amended.

Best wishes,

Siân

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Speaking in my role as the Green MP leading on crime and justice issues, I made a statement naming this problem as fascism and rooted in racism and Islamophobia and commending those in the areas targeted who have united peacefully against this hate. Greens across the country are supporting community leaders and individuals who are working to bring communities together in the face of attempts to inflame divisions.

In the letter, I call for immediate action to protect and support all those subject to fascist intimidation, and for action on those inciting the violence on social media, including politicians. I also call for investment in positive interventions to tackle fascism and the spread of far right ideology, including funding for community cohesion and to restore the massive loss of youth services under the last government.

Read the letter in full here:

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