Many people take credit for city's major projects

Whether it is the Preston Barracks site, Circus Street, Valley Gardens, the West Street Shelter Hall or the Royal Sussex County Hospital, some of the city’s most prominent sites and services are being rethought, developed or redeveloped, often after many years of waiting. Let’s not forget the schemes still in the planning stages such as Brighton General Hospital, Churchill Square and King Alfred.

Do not however underestimate the complexity of bringing forward these massive investments in the city’s future. Many of these schemes have taken years to bring together the right ideas, the right partners, the right funding, gain public support, ensure the legal agreements are in place and of course that planning permission and other statutory requirements are met. Only then can cranes or bulldozers appear.

Often politicians have seen these projects through their many stages, but it should be remembered that those political faces can change quite frequently, while these major projects continue in the pipeline. In this city, where for the last 15 years political control has swung between three parties, that means the person who announces the scheme is rarely in a position of control when the ribbon is cut – but who cares! It is of far greater importance to keep the right schemes progressing than it is to worry about unpicking the relative contributions of political groupings to the whole. I welcome the efforts that all those involved in each stage of these projects have made, including experts, partners, residents and local organisations (and politicians).

I for one will enjoy announcing, topping out or holding a big pair of scissors. But I won’t and shouldn’t claim credit for the whole thing – there will be hundreds and thousands of people whose contributions, far greater than those of the politicians, should not be ignored.

Cllr Daniel Yates is the Labour leader of Brighton & Hove City Council.