Cllr Steve Davis and Cllr Amy Heley
Co-Chairs, Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee
Hove Town Hall, Hove, East Sussex. BN3 3BQ
Dear Cllr Davis & Cllr Heley,
Member Letter (Procedure rule 23.3): Graffiti on Shopfronts
I am writing this letter to bring this committee’s attention to graffiti policy and the content of Community Protection Notice warnings sent to traders in recent weeks.
The warning notices sent specifically relate to the presence of graffiti on and around shopfronts. The wording is incredibly aggressive and includes the following paragraph in bold lettering:
“Your conduct is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those living in the locality and that your conduct is unreasonable.”
In each case, a penalty of £100, an unlimited fine and a charge for remedial works is threatened. The following questions arise:
1. Why are traders being so aggressively pursued when they are victims of crime, rather than perpetrators?;
2. Does the Council definitely have the power to follow through with the threatened actions?;
3. How many cases have been pursued to date where graffiti has not been removed?;
4. Will the wording now be changed to reflect the fact that the policy would be so much easier if traders were won over to the idea?; and
5. Will the Council apologise for warnings that have been issued to date?
I am requesting now that the Chair writes to all commercial premises in the city to explain the Administration’s policy in this area; to seek the co-operation of traders in implementing it; and to apologise for the aggressive wording in the original warnings.
With
best wishes
COUNCILLOR ROBERT NEMETH
Conservative Group Spokesman on Environment, Transport & Sustainability