According to Green Party Convenor Bill Randall, Brighton and Hove City Council should pay community groups to draw up and maintain local registers of people willing to help their neighbours when Arctic conditions strike the city.

Mr Randall said:
"Many people were ready to clear pavements and help in other ways in the recent bad weather, but there was no way of co-ordinating their efforts. In addition, in communities like  Hanover many local residents don’t have gardens and they will need to be supplied with spades, if they are to help.

"We will be putting our proposals to the council’s inquiry into the city’s response to the extreme weather conditions, which we called for and which will begin its task on February 8. Our proposals have been drawn up after asking residents for their views.

"Our proposals are not a criticism of the way Cityclean responded to the snow and ice. The workforce was magnificent. However, we think many residents are willing to give a helping hand and their efforts need coordinating. We think it best if volunteers are organised on a neighbourhood basis by local groups. We also think our proposals could lead to wider and long-term community cohesion."

Main proposals:
 
● ‘Community spades’ (with white painted handles) to be kept at community centres and to be available to residents (suggested by  Hanover residents who have neither gardens or shovels).

●Local registers of volunteers (kept by community organisations) ready to clear pavements.

● Local register of volunteers (kept by community organisations) ready to work with social services, Age Concern, Neighbourhood Care Scheme and other organisations to contact and help older and other vulnerable residents. The council could redeploy teachers from closed schools and other staff with CRB checks unable to get to work to help on this front.

● More salt and grit bins across the city.

● Publicise volunteer schemes and call for volunteers through community groups, in City News, local newsletters, the Argus and other local media.

● Make sure all agencies are enlisted to help, like the TA and other armed services.

For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonhovegreens.org