ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

 

16 November 2021

Agenda Item 50(b)

 

 

Brighton & Hove City Council

 

 

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

 

The question will be answered without discussion. The person who asked the question may ask one relevant supplementary question, which shall be put and answered without discussion. The person to whom a question, or supplementary question, has been put may decline to answer it. 

 

The following written questions have been received from Members:

 

(1)         Councillor West- Greening project at Round Hill

 

In 2019 committee received a petition relating to greening projects for Round Hill and called for a report. Residents have developed a funded plan for a pocket park at Princes Crescent bus stop. Persistent pavement parking there now makes urgent the need to reclaim this space for pedestrians and bus users. Delays caused by the pandemic are appreciated yet gaining even simple progress from Highways proves elusive. The project offers a good model that supports the ambitions of LCWIP. All residents seek is permission to get on with the job. When will the promised report be brought before the committee?      

 

(2)         Councillor Fishleigh- Saltdean Recycling Point over Christmas

Last December I asked for general waste bins to be put into the communal recycling point by Saltdean Lido over the Christmas period. This request was refused.

The result was that myself and other residents spent Boxing Day collecting up flytipping which was blowing into the park and sea, calling Rachel Chasseaud and helping the binmen who had to come back repeatedly. 

This recycling point is a highly profitable fly-tipping hotspot for BHCC as it’s on the edge of the city and attracts people from the east. 

What measures will be put in place to avoid a similar situation occurring this Christmas?

 

(3)          Councillor Fishleigh- Bike racks on Saltdean Undercliff

I haven’t had much luck getting a response from officers about getting bike racks installed at Saltdean Undercliff.

Is the undercliff on the list to get bike racks and, if so, what is the timescale? And, if not, how can I get them on the list?

 

(4)          Councillor Platts- Rubbish collections during the bin strike

 

Can the Chair please provide the following information relating to the recent bin strike:

 

a.    A list of the on-street areas identified as high risk during the recent bin strike for clearance by a private contractor.

b.    A list of those areas that were cleared by the contractor.

c.    How these areas were identified.

d.    Can the Council also explain why the corner of Chesham Close BN2 was either not identified or why it was identified but not cleared since rubbish was still piled up dangerously near to the homes on the corner at this time. A photograph can be provided if required.

e.    Which bin stores were identified.

f.     Which bin stores were cleared.

 

I would be grateful if the answers could be supplied to each bullet point in the format above.

 

(5)          Councillor Platts- Bulky Waste collections

I would like to thank Councillor Heley for the full and thoughtful reply given to my written question at Full Council on October 21st and for the consideration given to my ideas around signage to prevent fly-tipping. I am interested in the concept of a QR code on the bins.  Can the Chair confirm what research has been undertaken into the accessibility of information via a QR code by our older population?

 

(6)          Councillor Platts- East Brighton Park – locked pitch

I submitted the following written question to Council on 21st October; however, the answer relates to the wrong area of the park. The area the question refers to is just above the tennis courts and beside the children’s playground which is owned by the Council – it does not refer to the 3G pitch at the Stanley Deason Leisure Centre which is located further up Wilson Avenue. Please could I have an answer about the pitch which is currently locked and has fallen into disrepair?

 

(7)          Councillor Platts- East Brighton Park – Pavilion toilets

In a written question to Council on 21st October I asked “Can the Council confirm that the toilets in East Brighton Park pavilion have now been added to the cleaning contract as promised.” But the reply was not clear and seemed contradictory. The first part of the reply stated that: “The gardening staff at East Brighton Park have been instructed to clean the toilets following the fun run as they would for a sports booking.” But later on, in the same answer it was stated: “The team that manages the public toilet cleaning contract is not aware of a request to clean the toilets at East Brighton Park pavilion. Any additions to the contract will need a corresponding budget provided to ensure resources are available to clean and maintain them.”  Staff are aware of my several requests to clean the toilets which have been made over a long period of time and they have undertaken at least three site visits with me. Please can the Council confirm which is the correct answer?

 

(8)          Councillor Platts- Cleaning and graffiti in East Brighton

 

In a written question to Council on 21st October I stated that there had “been much coverage of cleaning the City centre as the entrance to visitors; however, the outer Wards are also being blighted by graffiti and stickers. Can the Council confirm what the plan is to tackle graffiti and what preventative action is being taken?” however, the answer given to me seems to be contradicted by a report in The Argus dated 2nd November that shows plans were in the pipeline to trial graffiti removal from public, private and commercial property in London Road “within 24 hours of occurring which is understood to be key to deterring the behaviour.” Please could I get an indication of when the scheme might be extended to include East Brighton?