IPCC report demands urgent action 

This past week has been dominated by the news from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which last Monday published its latest report on the likely impacts of climate change - and it's clear that the need for action is more urgent than ever.  I was involved in media work in response to the report, and my letter to the Guardian on it can be seen here.

The Guardian also did a more in-depth interview, covering my views of fracking and climate change, which you can read here.

Air Pollution alerts

With dangerous levels of air pollution over the UK last week, it was a particularly timely moment for the Sussex Air Quality group to hold a conference in the city on what more needs to be done to address the problem.  

I was pleased to have been asked to open the conference, and in my opening comments, I made the case that far more needs to be done to tackle this silent but deadly problem.  In particular, the Government should be redoubling its efforts to meet EU air quality standards, rather than using all of its ingenuity to avoid them.

World Tourism Week

Together with Julia Chanteray, President of the Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, and Soozie Campbell, Chair of Brighton and Hove Tourism Alliance, I wrote a joint letter to invite the Minister for Tourism to Brighton and Hove to hear the case for a reduction on VAT on visitor accommodation and attractions, in order to promote our local tourism industry.

Lowering VAT to 5% could end the competitive disadvantage that the UK tourism industry currently faces compared to other European countries, most of which have a reduced rate of tax on tourism, as well as ultimately generating more revenue for the Treasury.

Minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector

On Thursday, I asked Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change,why the Government has failed to introduce robust and enforceable minimum standards for energy efficiency for homes in the private rented sector.  The Government has failed to specify that all homes should be energy efficient with a band E minimum standard energy performance certificate.

The private rented sector has the highest proportion of the most energy-inefficient homes, which leads to high energy bills and fuel poverty. This simple change would have a huge impact on the many people who live in rented homes in Brighton and Hove.

The Secretary of State replied that the government will be consulting soon on measures - let's hope they're more ambitious than the Government's record to date.   

Badger cull to continue at pilot sites

On Thursday, I spoke in Parliament on the coalition government’s plans for culling badgers. While the cull is thankfully not being extended to other sites, the government is once again disregarding the science and the evidence in the pilot badger culling sites.

These pilot culls have been a failure on all of the government’s own criteria: they are not effective, are not humane and are likely to make bovine TB worse, not better. I asked the Secretary of State to guarantee that he will bring this issue back to the House so Parliament can have a vote on the proposals before the debacle goes any further.

Silicon Beach

I was delighted to have helped facilitate Brighton and Hove’s bid for Government money to improve our city’s digital infrastructure. 

Following the city’s successful bid, Brighton and Hove businesses now have access to high-speed quality broadband via a voucher scheme.

It is now up and running and helps small businesses, charities and voluntary organisations in the city to access up to £3,000 of capital costs associated with installing an ultrafast broadband connection.  Last week, Brighton & Hove City Council issued the first voucher to We Are Tilt, a well-deserved recipient. 

For those who are interested in the scheme, details about applying for a voucher can be found here. The scheme is open to limited companies, sole traders or any other form of business, and you can check whether your organisation is in an eligible location here.

I would love to hear from any local businesses who apply and have feedback about their experience of applying for vouchers. 

Local health worker commended by Government Minister

Local health worker Rick Cook came to Westminster to receive a letter of commendation and thanks for his work in helping to reduce the number of drug related deaths in the city.

I nominated Rick for the commendation for his work with MIND in the city and with Sustain.

Under Rick’s leadership, MIND has used the skills and experience of service users to evaluate the various recovery and substance misuse services across the city. He has also ensured that the clients of these services have a voice in decision making.

At the celebration event hosted by Lord Victor Adebowale on the Terrace at the House of Lords, Rick was presented with a letter of thanks by Jane Ellison MP, the Minister for Public Health.

Dogs Trust microchipping event at Preston Park

On Friday, I went along to the Dogs Trust microchipping event at Preston Park, Brighton. The event provided a fantastic free microchipping service for dogs, which will be compulsory for all dogs in England from 2016.

Dogs Trust believes that microchipping is the most effective way to help a lost dog being returned to their owner. They also consider that the introduction of compulsory microchipping should help to improve animal welfare, provide government with solutions to a large number of issues relating to irresponsible dog ownership and ease financial pressures on local authority services.

Dogs Trust have set aside £3million to provide free microchipping for dog owners and will hold many events like these up until 2016. To find out more, visit: www.chipmydog.org.uk