Date of meeting: 9 March 2023

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed at each ordinary meeting for questions submitted by a member of the public.

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 of the public:

(1) Nicola Benge – Domestic Abuse Services

Providers, Victim Support and Stonewater Housing Association, have now completed two years of their domestic abuse services contract in Brighton & Hove.

Please could you let us know what publicity, marketing and leaflets have been developed to let residents and potential service users know about their services?

Supplementary:

In the announcement of the new provider in early 2021 the Council Website stated:

"The service will include a programme of education, training, and community activities to promote safe and healthy relationships and the wider support services available. "

I can’t find any details of these programmes, please could you let us know what they are and how to find them.

(2) Ruth Farnell – Pan Sussex Voices Lived Experience Board

WRT Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Services. How is the Pan Sussex Voices Lived Experience Board going, and has there been feedback that has impacted the services and changed how they are being delivered?

(3) Dani Ahrens – Victim Support

How many service users did Victim Support work with from the start of the contract on 1st April 2021 to date? What was the quarter on quarter increase? Do you have a breakdown of service users by sex and by protected characteristic and were these numbers in line with the contract expectations?

(4) Leon Golstein – St Catherine’s Lodge

For a property to be recognised as particular or special, it must necessarily stand out qualitatively, in appearance, rarity, local significance, or public memory. The notable 17C house once on that site was completely demolished decades prior to 1900. The site is now a 1920’s hotel, made up of a mismatched hotchpot of cheaply constructed houses, extensions, utilitarian corridors, and spartan rooms added at various times. The “Dutch Gable” facia is not architecturally authentic, because it incorporates only poorly finished fragments of the true Dutch gable style.

As no part of the original and historically significant house remains, would not a blue badge or information plaque suffice to tell the story of what once stood there?

Supplementary:

In what way can this mismatch of replacement structures be said to be held in high regard by the local community, or benefit the area?