Subject: Victoria Fountain Investigation

Notice of Motion referred from Council on the 3 February 2022

Date of meeting: 15 March 2022

Ward(s) affected: All

For general release

1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1 To receive the following Notice of Motion which was debated at and referred from the full Council meeting held on the 3 February 2022.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 That the Committee responds to the motion concerning the condition of the Victoria fountain either by noting it or where it is considered more appropriate, calling for an officer report on the matter as requested, which may give consideration to a range of options.

3. CONTEXT / BACKGROND INFORMATION

3.1 The following resolution from the full council meeting held on the 3 February 2022 for the committee to consider is detailed below:

This Council requests the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1. To commission an urgent investigation into the appearance of a sink hole after the removal of the Christmas market and funfair, and whether existing known damage to the Victoria Fountain has been worsened by the funfair, or may be worsened by heavy equipment due to be placed there during planned work on Valley Gardens 3; and

2. To agree to the public release of all findings so that residents can be assured that the city’s historic sites and important heritage assets will be treated with the respect they deserve.

Brighton & Hove City Council

Council

6.30pm 3 February 2022

Hove Town Hall - Council Chamber

MINUTES

Present: Councillors Robins (Chair), Mears (Deputy Chair), Allcock, Appich, Atkinson, Bagaeen, Barnett, Brown, Childs, Clare, Davis, Deane, Druitt, Evans, Fishleigh, Gibson, Grimshaw, Henry, Hills, Hugh-Jones, Lloyd, Meadows, Mac Cafferty, McNair, Miller, Nemeth, Peltzer Dunn, Powell, Shanks, Simson, C Theobald, West, Wilkinson and Williams

PART ONE

78 VICTORIA FOUNTAIN INVESTIGATION

78.1 The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Mears on behalf of the Conservative Group and formally seconded by Councillor Theobald.

78.2 Councillor Evans moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Grimshaw.

78.3 Councillor Mac Cafferty noted that officer had already been requested to look into the situation affecting the fountain.

78.4 Councillor Mears noted the comments and confirmed that she would not accept the Labour amendment.

78.5 The mayor then put the Labour amendment to the vote which was caried by 23 votes to 11 against.

78.6 The mayor then put the following motion as amended to the vote:

This Council requests the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

2. To agree to the public release of all findings so that residents can be assured that the city’s historic sites and important heritage assets will be treated with the respect they deserve.

78.7 The mayor confirmed that the motion had been carried unanimously.