Longstanding Conservative Councillor Vanessa Brown has announced that she will retire in May, after an impressive 28 years as a Councillor in Hove on both Hove Borough Council and Brighton & Hove City Council.
She is one of the City’s most hardworking and respected councillors and has been well known for the work she has done across the city on school’s issues. Her knowledge on schools and children’s’ issues are second to none and when she speaks, everyone listens up. Her achievements are very much worth reflecting on.
Cllr Brown has served as a Councillor since 1995, first being elected onto the former Hove Borough Council for the Westbourne ward. This was the first year that Hove had a Labour Administration, so Vanessa was a member of the Conservative Opposition.
Shortly after, Hove Borough Council then joined with Brighton Borough Council to become a Unitary Authority, ‘Brighton and Hove Borough Council’, the precursor to the City Council we know today. Vanessa soon transferred to Hove Park, or Stanford Ward as it was called then, where she lives, and she has represented the ward ever since, successfully standing for the Conservatives at a further 7 elections.
A former schoolteacher by profession, Vanessa took on the Children and schools portfolio during the last Conservative Council Administration in the City during 2007-2011, making many long-lasting reforms which have stood to the current day.
As Chair of the Children, Families and Schools Committee, Vanessa oversaw the establishment of the Brighton Aldridge Academy and began the work to set up the Portslade Academy. These big academy schools have become some of the most well-attended in the city and have educated many thousands of children in the years since.
Vanessa’s reforms also included bringing in the catchment areas for secondary school admissions, which have served the test of time and are still in place today. During those years she opened a number of new Childrens’ Centres, Connaught Road Infant School - and also several school extensions - as there was a boom in the birth rate.
As a leading member of the Conservative Administration of 2007-2011, Vanessa was part of an Administration that got the City’s Finances under control and was able, after just 4 years, to propose a zero percent council tax rise.
The Conservatives’ flagship Value for Money Programme provided major dividends for the city, saving £75 million over 4 years and £92 million in total before it was finally stopped by the subsequent Greens’ administration.
That Conservative administration was an example for prudent financial management and the benefits this can bring. Despite taking office during the middle of a Global Financial Crisis, the Conservatives didn’t complain about Government funding or external conditions, instead embracing the task of delivering best value for money for residents and delivering the services they required.
Through her years of service, Vanessa have sat on many committees such as Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee; Tourism, Economy and Culture Committee; and the Health and Wellbeing Board - but has always been on Children, Families and Schools, or Children, Young People and Skills as it is now called.
On announcing her retirement Vanessa has said the following:
“As a primary school teacher for many years, the Schools committee has always been my greatest interest. I have learnt a great deal by being on different committees and have been fortunate enough to meet many interesting people. I have enjoyed working with all my colleagues over the years and have enjoyed working with Cllr Samer Bagaeen this past four years. I shall be sorry to leave and I am sure I will miss all the challenges but I have decided that the time is right to spend more time with my family and maybe have a few more holidays! I have enjoyed my twenty eight years as a councillor very much and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the many residents of Hove Park Ward who have helped and encouraged me over the years. Sometimes the work has been very frustrating but at other times very rewarding. I would also like to thank all the voluntary and community groups that I have worked with. These residents give freely of their time to help make the area a better place to live.”
The Local Government Boundary Commission’s review means that Hove Park Ward is now being enlarged to include Westdene, so there will be a requirement for three councillors rather than two.
Vanessa has had a big impact on the City and no doubt the thousands of children who have graduated from the schools that she helped establish.
After 28 years’ service I completely understand Vanessa’s wish to retire to spend more time with her grandchildren who she loves dearly. With her Hove Park ward being enlarged to form the new Westdene & Hove Park ward, her timing is apt.
I am sure residents will join me in saying a big thank you. Farewell Vanessa, but I am sure you will be a big part of the City for many years to come and we will see often at splendid Hove Park.
