Brighton & Hove City Council
Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee
4.00pm14 January 2021
Virtual
MINUTES
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Present: Councillor Ebel (Joint Chair), Powell (Joint Chair), Rainey (Deputy Chair), Evans (Opposition Spokesperson), Nemeth (Group Spokesperson), Grimshaw, Mears, O'Quinn, Simson, Osborne (Joint Chair) and Shanks |
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Other Members present: Nick May (Sussex Police), Joanna Martindale (Community Voluntary Sector), Stephanie Prior, Harpreet Kaur (CCG)
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PART ONE
56 Procedural Business
56(a) Declarations of substitutes
56.1 Councillor Sue Shanks declared her substitution for Councillor Phelim MacCafferty.
56.2 Councillor Martin Osborne declared his substitution for Councillor Claire Raney.
56(b) Declarations of interest
56.3 Councillor Powell declared her ongoing employment with Sussex Police.
56.4 Councillor Nemeth declared membership of the Hove Beach Hut Association and was the founder of this group.
56(c) Exclusion of press and public
56.5 In accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Planning Committee considered whether the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item of business on the grounds that it is likely in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during it, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act.
56.6 RESOLVED – That the public be not excluded during consideration of any item of business on the agenda.
57 Changes to Membership and Chairing of the TECC Committee
57.1 RESOLVED – that Committee:
1. Remove Councillor Rainey,
2. Appoint Councillor Osborne as Chair;
3. Appoint Councillor Ebel as Deputy Chair.
58 Minutes
58.1 Councillor Evans requested the wording of what was stated in response to Mr Pennington’s question at the previous TECC Committee be reconsidered due to inaccuracies supplied in the minutes.
59 Chairs Communications
59.1 The Chair gave the following communications:
“I would like to take to start this meeting today by taking a moment’s silence in remembrance of Sue Addis. Local businesswoman and community supporter whose tragic and untimely death was reported this week. It is a great loss for the City.
I would like to offer my vote of thanks now to Annie Sparks, our officer who is with us this evening who is retiring next week.
Since the last TECC meeting, I have attended the virtual World Aids day with a video message of solidarity. I attended the virtual trans remembrance day, I met virtually with Councillor Bob Lanser of West Sussex Council to start a discussion around any work that can be done on equalities. I’ve also had a helpful update from members of the Global HPO on their thoughts and how the Council are doing to address the recommendations they put together to address racism back in 2018.
I have virtually attended the racial harassment forums’ “break the silence” event. In between that and before Christmas I’m glad to say that I managed to get to a socially distanced visit to the Museum to see the Bowie exhibition which was really great.
In January I held my very first meeting with the members of the Jewish Community to discuss their concerns around tackling anti-Semitism in the city.
Next Thursday the 21st sees my second surgery for local charities to meet with me one to one and also in the evening is the third CAG meeting advising the Council on the anti-racist strategy.
The Covid Marshall service continues to be flexible and responsive, the introduction of the lock down changed restrictions. As the nighttime economy is now closed the small Covid Marshall team is focusing on activity during the day in identified areas where it is known that people congregate such as the seafront and other popular open spaces in the City and outside takeaways. The marshals will be there to encourage people to comply with Covid requirements if they see that any unsafe behaviour.
Weekly meetings between the Council and Sussex Police ensures that the services are kept under review and that we can deploy this service when and wherever it is most needed.
Building based library services are on a pause until end of January, but to reassure you that the existing digital library services and enquiry services will continue throughout this time. The situations will be reviewed towards the end of January and we are introducing more services if possible, in February.
Meanwhile repairs work which is critical to libraries services is being carried out at Carnegie in hove Library to replace the rear windows and to repair and replace some of the stone work, you’ll see that scaffolding has been erected at the front façade and the work is expected to last around a month depending on the weather. Those of you who are familiar with Westdene Library you’ll know there is the entrance which is a substantial structure and it is unfortunately declared unsafe last year and put out of action the repairs are in 2 stages and require planning consent so a temporary ramp will be installed in February and subject to planning and funding approval a permanent ramp to be placed in the late Summer.
Library services will be opening in Patcham and Hollingbury which were previously unavailable when the lock down has been lifted.
We know Covid-19 has been devastating our city’s events industry but the Council’s events team has been working throughout to help local businesses and freelancers with everything from cancellations, rescheduling and accessing various grant streams. One of the most important developments for events in the City will be the introduction of the outdoor events charter in 2021. The charted has been created as a public statement about what the City Council and organisers are trying to achieve through outdoor events and how they are going about it. It’s intended to help organisers understand what the City expects from them and to which they publicly commit themselves to. It’s also a tool to use with local communities who may be impacted by events to show what we’re trying to achieve to highlight the approach to quality and well managed events and to build a better relationship between those delivering events and those impacted by them. We are not aware of any other UK destination operating a charter such as this so it would be a first.
There is just 3 days to go till the consultation on Brighton and Hove Sports facilities investment plan which closes on the 17th January. Over 1300 people have already responded, please ensure that you have your say on the future of facilities for sports. It is invest in good quality, accessible sustainable facilities and services which support increased levels of participation by residents in the City.
The application for grants is on the Council portal, BHCC will work out the maximum entitlement to grants for the business from November onwards and the message is ‘if you’re not on the portal, you won’t get anything’, so if the current grant schemes are running up until the middle of February then cumulatively the combo of grants could lead anything up to as much as £23k.
It is taking a few weeks for the Government’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to follow up on any Government announcement with the guidance that the Council needs to inform businesses of the eligibility criteria as so far every announcement for a grant or a tier change has meant some sort of software change that needs to be spec’d, designed, built and tested on top of everything. The Council is hopeful that in this instance that closed business lockdown payment will effectively be a top up based on existing grant criteria and if it is then the Council has a chance of getting payments out before end of the month. Keep your eye on the Council website which is regularly updated.
In the past 3 months Visit Brighton has offered complimentary partnership to 525 plus tourism businesses ensuring business continues to be promoted throughout the pandemic. Bi-weekly newsletters to city wide tourist stakeholders have been giving them updates, on messaging, legislation, guidance, grant funding and Brexit related guidance. It has established a business support hub supporting tourist business in the city throughout the pandemic. I tis promoted, maintained and updated at visitbrighton.com. Positive Brighton and Hove messaging is very important, advising visitors of current Covid guidance and detailing good to go accreditation for businesses whilst offering inspiration for trips in the future. They have also communicated via social media and promoted an offline office for local tourism businesses in the city.
The Brighton Centre is currently working with the NHS colleagues in the preparation and delivery of becoming a mass vaccination centre for the city.
Just to reassure community works are still maintaining key points of contact for the sector, their platform for volunteering is as busy as ever as you would imagine and they are doing specific work with the public sector organisation and the NHS with the vaccine volunteers roll out. They have had a voice on the many Council’s working groups like the vulnerable people’s cell and on homelessness. In terms of the wider sector, they continue to be on the frontline for food distribution, youth work, mental health, homelessness, housing older people and domestic violence. They are working closely with our public sector and health colleagues to plan deliver where they can.
The key message is for all of us, is that our charities need our support, they need funders, commissioners and they need Councillors to help support them, continue with their support and to note thy are adapting to changing guidelines and delivery all the time.
There’s a series of community consultations in the form of films and an online consultation which are part of the development of the city’s 10-year public arts strategy. These films have been made to support consultees with the responses to the public arts strategy consultation questions and a team of young filmmakers are working with Lighthouse, a Brighton based arts technology and society organisation have produced these films. There are 5 films and they cover public art, a carbon neutral city, connectivity and community, places and spaces, public art and wellbeing and public art and heritage. The Community consultation responses will inform the public art strategy, the length of these films will be published in the Culture in Our City and Lighthouse Website.
The Council’s art team have commissioned a training session in partnership with community works to support the arts organisation in the city with the arts council recovery fund applications This there were 20 Brighton and Hove arts businesses that signed up to the event which was on the 12th January so we are waiting to hear if there are any further sessions and I will let you know if that’s the case.
We’re pleased to let you know that the Council’s Planning Team will be launching a new telecoms and phone mast page on the website in early February. This had been an area of particular interest and concern for residents. It will be a single point providing information on public health and 5g masts, information on and when consents are required for new masts and equipment including what can be considered and when residents will be consulted, there will be a link to an up to date map including information on all existing masts and equipment in the city. This will inform residents and service providers as well as help officers to look at better opportunities for site sharing. This will be available from the beginning of February.”
60 Call Over
60.1 The following items were called:
63. Beach Chalet Letting Policy
64. Brighton and Hove Cultural Recovery Plan
66. Anti-Racism Pledge Update
68. Field Officer Team: Progress Report.
60.2 The following report was agreed as per the recommendations in the report:
65. Fees and Charges 2021-22
61 Public Involvement
61.1 Mr Adrian Hill put forward the following question:
“1000 new apartments have been approved or built in areas where pollution exceeds legal limits exposing more people. Large buildings next to busy roads can also increase pollution because of reduced air flow and increased congestion. Will you ensure the pollution control advice and rules detailed in city plan SU9 and LAQM2020 are being checked? Also will you agree to better scrutinise and understand the limited regulations of the developer funded AQ assessments submitted with building plans? E.g. ‘it was not possible to locate the [diffusion tube] on Google Street view’ isn’t an acceptable means of excluding evidence of illegal pollution.”
61.2 The Chair gave the following response:
“The City Council has a strong commitment to improving air quality in the city and is working towards improvements that will surpass health protections set by the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards who are guided by the World Health Organisation. It is through these actions and measures that air quality will improve in the city.
In terms of new development - larger developments in the city are often located in areas with lower air quality, such as the main Development Areas. It’s because these often correspond with main transport corridors into the City Centre including London Road and Lewes Road. This is because they are the most accessible areas of the city in terms of public transport and active travel; and where the large development sites are located.
A planning application will rarely be refused due to poor air quality as the impact can be addressed with modifications and conditions. You can be assured that when a development impacts on these areas, policies in the adopted plan are applied and advice provided by the council’s technical expert. This is to ensure that contributions to pollution or impact on local air quality is mitigated; and harm to future residents and visitors minimised.”
61.3 Mr Hill gave the following supplementary:
“It is advisable that planning does not admit housing adjacent to a27 and a23 risking requirement of air quality management. This is set by law and must be adhered to, improvements to poor air quality have been proposed before but remain un-addressed.”
61.4 The Head of Planning noted Mr Hill’s concerns and stated that when planning applications came forward, air quality issues were carefully considered. It was noted that it was rare for an application to be refused due to air pollution and that, although this had happened in the past, this could be overcome through amendments in an application or legal agreements to mitigate issues.
61.5 Mr Stephen White gave the following question:
“We have been speaking to businesses running outdoor cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities in East Brighton and they are concerned to hear that polluting dust from the proposed development at the gasworks will land up to 500 metres from the site. They imagine this will affect their businesses and therefore affect tourism. What can you say that will allay these fears?”
61.6 The Chair gave the following response:
“I can assure you the protection of residents’ health and safety remains a top priority for the city council when it comes to remediating a contaminated site like the Brighton Gas Works.
This is, however, a site that should be capable of being remediated safely. Residents and local services can be assured remediation of the Gas Works site must be safe and meet stringent standards set nationally. There will be oversight of this by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
In terms of future development of the site – considering any future planning applications will require scrutiny of evidence on how the site will be remediated. This will be carried out by specialist experts and considered by officers and Planning Committee.
A decision to approve the application would require the developer to comply with stringent planning conditions to address safe land remediation. Then, these conditions would have to be satisfied before any development could commence on the site.
We would like the see this derelict and contaminated site allocated for development in City Plan Part One, remediated and redeveloped. It will provide much needed homes and jobs; and, I hope, should generate custom that will support local businesses.”
61.7 As a supplementary Mr White referred to the effect of gasworks on resident’s health and enquired of any examples where residents had not been effected.
61.8 The Head of Planning offered to provide a written response.
61.9 Ms Marie Sansford, addressed the panel and gave the following question:
“The Scoping Report provided by QUOD on behalf of Berkeley Homes dated July 2020 states: `With respect to the Site, this has been allocated for redevelopment under Policy DA2.C.2 to provide “...approximately 2,000 sqm of business floor space to the north of the site, a minimum of 85 residential units and some ancillary retail development.” Under saved Policy HO1 of the BHLP, the southern half of the site was allocated for housing and was expected to provide 80 units of which 30% would be allocated for affordable housing. On adoption of the BHCC City Plan Part Two (CPP2), the saved policies will be replaced’.
In the Council’s Scoping Opinion Report English Heritage reportedly stated that the site was allocated for 50+ houses, and the Council also state this. There is no allocation of units in the publicly available draft of City Plan 2.
However a planning officer said by telephone that the site is now allocated for 340+ units. Please tell us exactly what this site is allocated for, and in what policy documents?”
61.9 The Chair gave the following response:
“The site is allocated for development in policy DA2 of City Plan Part One for a minimum of 85 new homes and 2000 sqm of employment space. This means, that applications can be submitted for more than 85 homes. The reason the number of units is expressed as a minimum is that we were only able to meet 44 per cent of our housing needs through sites identified for housing. As a result, the Planning Inspector for the City Plan required the housing requirement for the city to be expressed as a minimum
I can assure you, however, where more units are proposed that planning officers will carefully look at the level of development against all policies in the plan for example on design, layout, impact on amenities and travel. And the application will then be decided by councillors at Planning Committee.”
61.10 Ms Sansford gave the following supplementary:
“The report stated that previous allocations would fall away once the city plan 2 was accepted, if true what did this mean?”
61.11 The Head of Planning stated that the City Plan Part 2 aimed to be adopted in early 2022 and that this would not replace City Plan Part 1 rather it would be underneath it.
61.12 Ms Sue John addressed the panel and gave the following question:
“Rottingdean Parish Council welcomes the report on the city’s beach chalets and its recommendations. However, the report highlights the persisting inequity within the beach chalet leasing arrangements, leading to unreasonably long waiting lists. As it is not clear what the impact on tenure will be of freeing up those chalets currently leased by non-residents of Brighton and Hove, will the Committee agree to review the effect of recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 in 18 months’ time and consider whether further action is required?”
61.13 The Chair gave the following response:
“Thank you Councillor John for your question and for welcoming the report on Beach Chalets. An update on the impact of the recommendations will be included in the next report to committee on Beach Chalets. If a feasibility study is approved an update can be included in the report to committee on the outcome of the feasibility study.”
61.14 Ms John had the following supplementary:
“Whilst the recommendations are welcome, we regret that our initial request to move to a fixed term lease for all has been disregarded. We would have sympathy with a clause to allow residents in receipt of health and sdisability related benefits an automatic right of renewal at the end of the fixed term but how can BHCC incentivise those resident lifetime leaseholders who make no use of their chalets from year to year to relinquish those leases and thus reduce the waiting list further?”
61.15 The Chair requested that Ms John wait for the next item which would further discuss this issue in detail.
61.16 Mr John Paul McCarthy addressed the committee and gave the following question:
“The Saltdean Community Association, a local charity, want to buy and erect a wooden beach hut on the Undercliff at Saltdean near to the tunnel. This is a clear space beside the concrete wall. The hut would be used by the multitude of groups of local residents including sea swimmers, runners, triathletes and sea sports enthusiasts. The Association would pay for the hut, its insurance including public liability and maintenance. There would be no cost to the council of allowing us to put up a much-needed community asset. If it is damaged by the weather, the waves or humans, then that would be our responsibility. Would the chair of this committee, or any of its members, please consider an amendment to the Beach Chalet proposal that you are considering today please to enable us to put up a community beach hut?”
61.17 The Chair gave the following response:
“Thank you, Mr McCarthy, for your question. It is recommended in the report on Beach Chalets on the agenda of this meeting that a feasibility study is undertaken on the provision of additional beach chalets and beach huts along the Seafront. If it is approved this feasibility study will include consideration of the proposal you have suggested.”
61.18 Mr McCarthy referred to the amount of free space along the seafront and for a supplementary question enquired if it was possible to add 50 extra hubs, it was noted that an active group of swimmers and paddleboarders were looking for shared space.
61.19 The Chair referred to the original response and noted that a feasibility study would include this in the request.
61.20 Mr David Wilson addressed the panel and gave the following question:
“The report on beach chalets says that 17 of the 20 chalets in Saltdean are on indefinite leases. As someone who walks past the chalets twice a day everyday rain or shine, I know how much they aren't used. Therefore, I’m extremely disappointed that the council has bowed to pressure from people with lifetime leases. Of course, they don’t want to give them up. But the fact is that officers are now proposing that councillors agree to a policy which is “for the few not the many”. Would the council please check that leaseholders of all the beach chalets across the city are not in arrears as I don't understand why anyone would pay hundreds of pounds every year to rent a beach chalet that they never use. And, if the arrears are significant, please would the council terminate the lease?”
61.21 The Chair gave the following response:
“Thank you Mr Wilson for your question. We would confirm that any chalet users who are in arrears with payments are contacted by the Council’s Corporate Collection Team. If the arrears become significant, then consideration is given to terminating the agreement with the chalet user.”
61.22 For a supplementary question, Mr Wilson requested that BHCC carry out maintenance on chalets which needed renovation.
61.23 The Chair referred to the upcoming report on Beach Chalets which would include more information pertaining to the status of chalets.
61.24 Ms Mo Marsh addressed the Committee and presented her deputation on Beach Chalets.
61.25 The Chair gave the following response:
“Thank you Alderman Marsh for your deputation regarding beach chalets.
Beach chalets are a very popular amenity within the city and the report which this committee is considering proposes a feasibility study into increasing the provision of beach chalets. The council is therefore seeking to increase the opportunity for residents of the city to use a beach chalet. Your proposal that chalet users with 5 year agreements are extended would not meet this aim.
Periodic inspections are undertaken of the chalets and contact made with chalets users whose chalets are in need of repair. When chalets users are contacted annually to be notified of changes in the rent, they are reminded of the waiting lists and to consider ending their agreement if they are not utilising their chalet.
The lockdown has been a national response to a public health pandemic which has affected everybody in the country, with a severe financial impact upon the council. Therefore it would not be appropriate for the council to be extending agreements for chalet users by six weeks to compensate for the lockdown.
It is not possible to guarantee access at all times to the chalets in Madeira Drive. For example, the area is closed for health & safety requirements for the Speed Trials. However, the council will look to minimise the impact upon access to chalets for users as much as possible.
We do appreciate your passion for a beach chalet, however the opportunity to use a beach chalet is also shared by many other residents of the city.”
61.26 RESOLVED – that committee agreed to note the deputation.
62 Member Involvement
(i) Public Space Protection Orders
62.1 Councillor Nemeth gave the following question:
“When Public Space Protection Orders were last discussed at this committee, Members were informed that the Orders were due to expire and that no plan had been drawn up for their renewal. An update was expected by mid-2020 but nothing has been forthcoming. Has the PSPO programme been quietly abandoned?”
62.2 The Chair gave the following response:
“Thank you for the question. The use of PSPOs in the City has not been abandoned. In September 2020 this Committee endorsed the continued use of PSPOs in relation to existing gating orders, dog control orders and drinking in public spaces for three years until 2023. In relation to PSPOs for Parks and Open Spaces, these expired in December 2019. A review of alternative enforcement tools was requested which I understand has been progressed and a briefing note was sent to Cllr Simson setting out alternative enforcement options to PSPOs for Parks and Open spaces. I will follow this up with officers and request that the briefing is shared with all members of the Committee.”
62.3 Councillor Nemeth gave the following supplementary:
“Will the administration no be progressing the PSPO program for parks in particular?”
62.4 The Chair responded by noting that there was an equalities issue which led to this outcome.
(ii) Effects of Sewage Overspills on Water Sports
62.5 Councillor Nemeth gave the following question:
“Are watersports participants properly informed that red flags could signify a health hazard risk rather than dangerous sea conditions? A health hazard could be associated with calm waters after a severe storm that results in combined sewer and surface water discharges.”
62.6 The Chair gave the following response:
“The flag system on bathing beaches is managed by the Beach Lifeguards and will only be flown when lifeguards are on duty. The red flag is a signal that the lifeguards consider the conditions are unsafe for swimming and watersports. This could be for any number of reasons including pollution events. When the red flag is displayed the lifeguards will proactively patrol the designated bathing beach and advise beach users not to enter the water to swim or for watersports. If sea conditions permit, the lifeguard patrol boat will also provide information to anyone already on the water.”
62.7 Councillor Nemeth gave the following question:
“In 2020, the most westerly Red Flag was at the Life Guard station next to the King Alfred. This was so far away as to be virtually invisible from the Promenade and Beach, west from about Langdale Gardens. Is there a case for more red flags even if these are not next to manned life guard stations?”
62.8 The Chair gave the following response:
“During the bathing season we would always encourage anyone swimming to do so at a lifeguarded bathing area. As previously explained the red flags should only be flown when lifeguards are present and only on designated bathing beaches. It is an internationally recognised system and should therefore not be altered.”
62.9 Councillor Nemeth asked the following question:
“Ought there to be a large and visible notice in front of each of the five
outflows cautioning against swimming close to them, especially after rainy weather?”
62.10 The Chair gave the following response:
“This could be investigated but any signage would need to be developed in conjunction with Southern Water. Fixed signs on the beach can be problematic due to damage caused by the elements ad the proximity to the shoreline.”
62.11 Councillor Nemeth gave the following question:
“Would the Environmental Health Team be aware if there were a spike in sewage-related disease amongst swimmers? GP practices report incidence of diagnosed illness on a monthly basis to Public Health and this might not show a localised spike for example in gastro-enteritis over a specific 2-3 day period, which could be linked to a discharge.”
62.12 The Chair gave the following response:
“There are a number of systems in place by which such events would be picked up. The Public Health England Health Protection Team would be in contact with the council if they noticed a spike in any notified illness. They would alert the Public Health and Environmental Health teams to the actions either being or needing to be taken. The Environmental Health team may be asked to investigate single cases of gastrointestinal illness and may pick up common themes from the individual cases and identify a potential outbreak. If there had been recent heavy rain/overflow from sewers released into the sea then this would be considered as a risk, especially if cases reported sea swimming.”
(iii) Funding Maintenance Plans
62.13 Councillor Nemeth gave the following question:
“Cllr Powell kindly offered to respond post-meeting to my supplementary question on Funding Maintenance Plans at the November 2020 meeting of this committee. Will this response be sent soon?”
62.14 The Chair gave the following response:
“I agree that good quality and maintainable materials are a practical way of helping to achieve two key priorities – sustainability and a better quality built environment. As part of the planning process – these need to be weighed up and balanced with other policies and goals that we have – for example affordable housing, securing jobs and delivering a carbon neutral city by 2030.”
(D) Notice of Motions
(i) Improving Availability of Beach Huts and Chalets
62.15 The Committee considered a notice of motion referred from Full Council meeting which took place on the 22 August 2020.
62.16 RESOLVED – that the notice of motion be noted.
63 Beach Chalet Letting Policy
63.1 The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment, Environment & Culture which sought to update members on the status of the Beach Chalet Letting Policy. The report was provided by the Head of Sport and Leisure.
63.2 Councillor Nemeth and Evans presented a composite amendment which sought to add a new recommendation while amending the amendments and
63.3 The Committee welcomed the report and the officers involved in bringing this forward. Councillor Ebel expressed concern regarding the outcome of the amendment with respect to decreasing tenure of facilities, a comparison was made with the long term use of garages.
63.4 Members noted issues surrounding lack of use and stated support for a compromise.
63.5 RESOLVED – That Committee:
1. (subject to further consideration of the legal, financial and practical implications of the proposal in a future report) indefinite agreements for beach chalets should be phased out over a period of 8 years starting from the lifting of lockdown restrictions and all future agreements will be as per the fixed term agreements.
2. Approves bringing indefinite agreements to an end as soon as is practically possible for beach chalets for those that do not reside in Brighton & Hove in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licence agreement.
3. Agrees that annual checks are carried out to ensure that all existing and future fixed-term licence agreements remain with residents of Brighton & Hove.
4. Agrees for a further report to identify locations for to be the provision of additional beach chalets and beach huts along the seafront including less well visited parts to help regenerate those areas, in particular the area east of the Palace Pier.
5. Agrees the report also explores options to finance the building of additional beach chalets or beach huts to rent or to purchase.
6. Agrees the report also identifies how beach huts and chalet income east of the Palace Pier could support additional borrowing and regeneration of Madeira Terraces and contribute to the wider area’s regeneration and renewal.
7. Agrees the report considers retaining one or more beach chalets in future, from either existing stock freed up by new lease arrangements or new stock, as short term lets for community event use.
64 Brighton and Hove Cultural Recovery Plan
64.1 The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Culture which sought to provide an outline of the thematic areas where projects would be developed by both the Council and external stakeholders to support the recovery over the next 24 months from April 2021. The report was provided by the Assistant Director Culture, Tourism & Sport.
64.2 The Committee welcomed the report and noted the procurement of 10 million pounds, the importance of the arts and creative industries commission. It was further noted that financial support from Central Government was not enough.
64.3 Councillor Shanks noted the lack of attendance of artist open houses prior to Christmas and noted issues with marketing.
64.4 RESOLVED: That committee:
1. Notes that the culture and creative sectors have been badly
affected by the Pandemic for over nine months now, and normal activity levels are not expected to return until the second half of 2021.
2. Notes the key aspects of the Recovery Plan for Culture as laid out in sections 3.4 and 3.5 below, which places the regeneration of livelihoods for thousands of creative workers at centre of a series of projects over 2021 and 2022.
65 Field Officer Team : Progress Report
65.1 The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture which sought to provide an update on the work and progress of the Field Officer Team since it was fully launched in December 201. The report was provided by the Regulatory Services Manager.
65.2 The Committee welcomed the report and noted issues such as safety of staff, difficulties field officers faced during the Covid-19 lockdown and further noted an issue regarding the change in function for Field Officers proposed in 2017 and the current role.
65.3 Councillor Simson stated the importance of making sure complaints relating to Field Officers be channelled properly and sought clarity on the role of Field Officers with regard to anti-social behaviour.
65.4 The Regulatory Services Manager clarified that the Field Officers could be tasked by housing officers to do work on their behalf.
65.5 RESOLVED – that Committee:
1. Note the update on the work of the Field Officer team.
66 Anti-racism pledge update
66.1 The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities which sought to provide an update on actions taken since 19th November 2020. The report was provided by the Equalities Manager.
66.2 The Committee welcomed the report and noted that ethnic minorities were at higher risk during the Covid-19 era, sought clarification on Operation Black vote and enquired how training would be tailored to different roles within BHCC.
66.3 The Head of Communities and Equality stated that there would be a commitment to include race as a factor in the budget.
66.4 RESOLVED – That Committee:
1. Note the report.
67 Items referred for Full Council
67.1 No items were referred to Full Council.
68 Fees and Charges 2021-22
68.1 RESOLVED – That Committee:
1. Approves the proposed fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out within the report.
2. Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Economy,
Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.4-3.6) to change fees and charges as set out in the report and as set by central Government during the year.
The meeting concluded at 7.47pm
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