Agenda item - Chairs Communications

29.1      The Chair provided the following Communications:

“I was delighted to be at the unveiling and launch of our new, all-electric refuse lorry – and also very proud to be the first local authority in the South East to have one.

The carbon savings we will make is a hugely positive step towards becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030. By that date we will also have save £400,000 on fuel costs. The council now has 25 all-electric vehicles in its fleet.

“We have also been working closely with local campaign groups Surfers Against Sewage and Leave No Trace on a zero-waste beach initiative to educate the public about the dangers to us all, and especially our marine life, on leaving waste on the beach.

“Tomorrow is ‘Car Free Day’, a chance for all of us to reflect on the way we move around the city. Active, inclusive and sustainable travel is the future, not just for Brighton & Hove, but for the planet.

“We are in the middle of a Climate Emergency and only by changing how we think and act around travel and transport can we begin to tackle this global challenge. 

We’re pleased that this year some of our partners like the BikeShare will be offering free bikeshare journeys, that Brighton & Hove buses have offered free journeys to some of our beautiful nearby green spaces and that exhibitions displaying children’s views of their dream street are on display at the library to help promote these conversations.

Later we’ll hear an update on the excellent work we are doing to support people who are making the switch to hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as our future plans to deliver more School Streets, which will help keep our children safe to and from school.

Both of these are great examples of how we can change to meet the challenges of the future. Only by giving people the right infrastructure will enable them to make active and sustainable travel choices.

“In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be launching a consultation on two documents which will help shape the future of travel and transport in the city. Our Local Transport Plan 5 and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan will set out how we connect our communities for years to come. I would urge as many people as possible to take the time to look over these documents and have their say.”