Brighton & Hove City Council
HOUSING COMMITTEE Agenda Item 67 (b)
Subject: Public Questions
Date of Meeting: 15 March 2023
Report of: Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law
Contact Officer: Shaun Hughes
E-mail: shaun.hughes@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Wards Affected: All
FOR GENERAL RELEASE
1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:
1.1 To receive any questions submitted to Democratic Services.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.2 That the Committee responds to the questions.
1.
From John Hewitt
Electrical Charging Points in Council-owned garages.
The Council own 1,063 garages; mainly situated in the outskirts, such as Hangleton & Knoll- where there are 243 garages alone.
There are currently 660,000 electric vehicles in the UK; a rise of 629,311 from 2016. The sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out in 2030.
Would the council commission a report to assess the feasibility of installing electrical charging points in the garages they own, and report back to this committee?
This will improve the infrastructure of the council’s properties and allow residents to have the confidence of owning more environmentally friendly vehicles.
2. From Charles Harrison
Question relating to Housing Committee Agenda Item 71 - Housing Repairs and Maintenance – Procurement of Materials Supply Chain.
I note that approval is being sought, from the Housing Committee, to procure and award a contract for the materials supply chain for the Housing Repairs & Maintenance Service.
Will the Housing Committee be given the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed list of tenderers, the procurement selection criteria and weightings and the performance criteria, prior to issuing the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and Invitation to Tender?
3. From David Maples
At a time when the latest government survey shows that the number of rough sleepers across the country has increased substantially why is the 'No Second Night Out Service', commissioned by the Council and currently provided by St Mungo's, to stop homeless people sleeping on the streets being decommissioned in April with the intention of not providing a replacement service until October this year?
4. From Daniel Harris
Last September I asked the following “Which leads to our own assets such as priory house / Green Diamond, which is a former council building now private sector holiday lets. £100s per night. Some apartments are up for The Directors own Moretons, baron Homes and £100's million in assets in this city, plus have contracts with the council for the homeless. We must ensure the council make use of our assets to bring our emergency and temporary accommodation in-house. Can the council tell me the full term of the lease and how much that was sold to West Acre Investments for?”
It’s been months and no formal reply, when can I expect a written response as agreed last Sept?
Supplementary Question
Q2 which is a apart/hotel on the former ice rink site is a similar model to Green Diamond, the business model seems to be to attract the Airbnb Market, at a time when we are seeing a lot of private sector landlords sell up due to this £250/£350 per night market. This is disgusting when we have 2200 people in temporary accommodation & being told rough sleeping will rise by officers. When will the council put local people first and ensure developments work for the need of the community and not these people who are often out to make a quick buck?
5. From Steve O’Donnell
Evidence states that 45% of rough sleepers identified at the last street count would have been eligible for NSNO.
These figures take into account that all 45 available beds were already at full capacity when the street count took place.
Can the committee explain how they envisage adequate resource will be provided to promptly assess and reconnect the inevitable rising numbers of rough sleepers in the city and why it considers there is little value in the continuation of provision for NSNO when the Council has pledged that savings will not be made in tackling homelessness?