A by-election will take place next Thursday (24 September) to fill a vacant seat on Brighton and Hove City Council representing Queen’s Park ward.
The position became available following the resignation of former Labour councillor Milla Gauge.
Five candidates are contesting the election: Stefan Speckesser representing the Conservative Party, Mark Strong for the Green Party, Steve Gladwin standing for Labour, Rüdiger Dikty-Daudiyan representing the Liberal Democrats, and John Shepherd as the Reform UK candidate.
Each contender was invited to address questions concerning local matters and to explain their case to voters in the ward.
The responses provided by Labour’s Steve Gladwin, who is 61 years old, are published below.
His professional background includes work as an NHS director, a public relations practitioner, and a journalist.
Regarding his motivation for seeking elected office, Gladwin stated that his primary aim is to make a positive contribution to his local area.
Following his retirement earlier this year, he considered how his professional expertise could best serve the community.
His diverse career encompassing healthcare leadership, entrepreneurship, communications work, and journalism convinced him that serving as a city councillor represented the most effective avenue for meaningful public service.
He expressed strong commitment to social equity and enabling all individuals to reach their potential.
Having grown up in local authority accommodation, Gladwin cited his own trajectory as evidence of how robust public services can create opportunities for advancement.
He credited Labour with providing those chances and expressed a desire to ensure similar prospects for others.
On why he selected this particular ward for his candidacy, Gladwin noted that he has resided in the area for almost three decades and possesses detailed knowledge of Queen’s Park.
His daily routines include walking his pet in the park, using the recycling facilities situated on Queen Square Terrace, and cycling along Freshfield Road to reach the Brighton Swimming Centre.
He has developed extensive social connections throughout the ward.
He acknowledged that the area confronts substantial difficulties including socioeconomic deprivation, substandard accommodation, problematic conduct by some residents, preservation of open spaces, and road safety concerns.
Gladwin observed that since Labour secured control from the Greens in 2023, measurable improvements have been realised in the ward and throughout the city, and he wishes to advance that progress further.
Addressing ward-specific priorities, Gladwin identified that behind the impressive properties surrounding Queen’s Park exists some of the most acute relative deprivation in the city.
He emphasised his commitment to addressing the inequality and hardship this creates.
He noted that the Labour-controlled council, in conjunction with Andy Burnham’s national administration, has achieved substantial advances through enhanced protections for tenants, licensing requirements for landlords, removal of VAT from energy costs, more equitable arrangements for school admissions, and investment in recreational facilities for children.
He expressed strong support for these initiatives and his determination to ensure that every resident of Queen’s Park, regardless of their personal circumstances, has genuine opportunity to prosper.
On the matter of declining birth rates affecting school pupil numbers, Gladwin explained that school funding formulas allocate resources based on enrolled students, meaning unfilled places result in reduced income for educational institutions.
Consequently, the Labour council has made challenging but essential choices to decrease admission limits at certain primary schools, thereby guaranteeing that pupils, particularly those facing disadvantages, receive adequate teaching support.
He endorsed exploration of school federations as a means to enhance efficiency, alongside the council’s substantial programme of building both council housing and socially-rented properties, which will assist more families in affording to stay in the city and maintain sustainable pupil rolls.
Regarding the substantial financial burden temporary and emergency accommodation places on the council, Gladwin attributed the housing crisis to the previous Conservative administration’s failure to construct sufficient homes.
He stated that the Labour-run council continues to assist homeless individuals through temporary and emergency housing arrangements while simultaneously delivering the most significant increase in housing development in Brighton for a generation, contributing to efforts to address homelessness and rough sleeping.
He advocated that to reduce temporary accommodation expenditure, the council should persist in acquiring its own properties and securing bulk bookings to achieve improved rates.
He contrasted this approach with the Greens’ reliance on purchasing individual units at inflated prices, which drove up costs and benefited unscrupulous landlords.
Concerning road maintenance and improvement in the ward, Gladwin expressed approval for the Labour council’s record expenditure on road resurfacing during the current year, totalling more than £8.8 million, which includes £1 million specifically directed toward repairing damaged and uneven footpaths.
He noted that prolonged neglect under the preceding Conservative administration created a substantial maintenance backlog, including in Queen’s Park.
His immediate focus would be securing prioritisation of Queen’s Park roads for resurfacing work, particularly along bus routes where potholes cause discomfort for passengers and cause damage to vehicles.
He noted with satisfaction that Craven Road is scheduled to proceed to tender, and should he be elected, he would work to ensure the scheme advances without unnecessary delay.
In response to questions regarding the circumstances prompting the by-election and the steps he would pursue to ensure the council meets its statutory duties regarding child protection, including measures for young people who may be uncertain about their gender identity, Gladwin affirmed the Labour council’s solid record in safeguarding all children, including those questioning their gender.
He cited the council’s 2023 actions to address a major protection failure that occurred under Green Party oversight, during which 137 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children disappeared from a Hove hotel.
For transgender and gender-questioning young people, he explained that the Labour council has implemented a trans inclusion toolkit to guide schools in enabling every child to participate in education free from discrimination and stigma while meeting all relevant legal and safeguarding requirements.
He emphasised that the paramount concern must consistently be the protection, welfare, and respect owed to every young person.
Voting will take place between 7am and 10pm.
Acceptable photographic identification must be presented at the polling station.