Subject: Written questions from Councillors.
Date of meeting: 20 July 2023
Report of: Executive Director for Governance, People & Resources
Contact Officer: Name: Anthony Soyinka
Tel: 01273 291006
Email: anthony.soyinka@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
For general release
The following questions have been received from Councillors and will be taken as read along with the written answer detailed below:
1. Councillor McLeay
Subject: Weeds
Regarding the clearing of weeds on pavements, does Labour intend to bring back the use of glysophate?
Reply from Councillor Rowkins, Chair of City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee
2. Councillor Shanks
Please provide the 22/23 original budget, 22/23 full year income out turns and 23/24 estimated budgets for the following parking income budget lines?:-
· On street parking income
· Parking permit income
· Parking suspension income
· Penalty Charge notice income
· Off Street car parking income
Reply from Councillor Muten, Chair of Transport & Sustainability Committee
3. Councillor Shanks
Will you agree to consult residents and councillors on the expansion of Gatwick airport before engaging with the planning process on behalf of the local authority? This expansion represents a huge increase in emissions and is certainly counterproductive in the climate crisis.
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
4. Councillor Shanks
The former Lloyds Bank building at Preston Circus is a Council owned property currently leased to Lloyds until October of this year, but now vacant. Brighton and Hove City Mission expressed an interest in acquiring the premises just before Christmas 2021, as a potential new base for their Brighton Food Bank, currently in part of the Calvary Church Building in Viaduct/Stanley Rd. This would provide increased space and locate the Food Bank on the ground floor of the building. The Council are currently in negotiation with Lloyds over dilapidations. In April 2022 the Policy and resources (recovery sub committee) supported the City Missions application for a lease of 5 Preston circus subject to agreement of acceptable terms.
This has still not happened. Will the Leader of the Council commit to giving Brighton and Hove City Mission Foodbank a permanent base in Preston Circus to continue their important charitable work.
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
5. Councillor Bagaeen
Chief Executive recruitment:
The Chief Executive has a 6-month contract. There are only four months remaining. What is the recruitment plan?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
6. Councillor McNair
Flooding in Patcham & Hollingbury
Last year, the Scape project was opened, but residents in Dale Drive and Carden Avenue are still flooded a few times per year. What further plans does the council have to reduce flooding?
Reply from Councillor Rowkins, Chair of City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee
7. Councillor Theobald
Parking and scratch cards
Forcing residents and tourists to use an app on their phone is not only inconvenient but discriminatory. Will the council investigate the re-introduction of scratch cards for the use of residents and tourists?
Reply from Councillor Muten, Chair of Transport & Sustainability Committee
8. Councillor Meadows
Working from Home
How many council officers, and separately senior management, are working from home, and have permission to work outside Brighton and from abroad?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
9. Councillor Hogan
Defibrillators
Has the administration made community groups aware of the need to test defibrillators?
Reply from Councillor Pumm, Chair of Equalities, Community Safety & Human Rights Committee
10. Councillor Lyons
Parking charges
When will the excessive parking charges be reviewed and a newly-reduced rate introduced?
Reply from Councillor Muten, Chair of Transport & Sustainability Committee
11. Councillor McNair
Long grass
Residents in Carden Avenue and elsewhere frequently complain their view of oncoming traffic is blocked by long grass as they leave their drives. Why are sightlines in verges, and whole verges on bends, not routinely cut before driver vision is obscured and the risk of an accident increased?
Reply from Councillor Rowkins, Chair of City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee
12. Councillor Fishleigh
Subject: Pavilion Gardens toilets
There is a lot of public interest and desire to have the toilets reopened in Pavilion Gardens which BHCC still own. I understand there is an arrangement pending lottery funding that the RPMT (a charity) will take over these toilets but even if funding is successful they would not be available until 2025. Will BHCC re-open them in the meantime?
Reply from Councillor Rowkins, Chair of City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee
13. Councillor Fishleigh
Subject: West Pier
In March The Argus quoted that the West Pier Trust was "around eight weeks away from beginning its work to restore the jewel in the crown of Brighton”. What works are planned, what’s the timescale, how much will it cost and will the Trust be dipping into its £1.7m in unrestricted funds?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
14. Councillor Fishleigh
Subject:
The 27 bus route
This route is subject to frequent delays. What is the process for shortening the route and providing a separate service from Brighton train station northwards?
Reply from Councillor Muten, Chair of Transport & Sustainability Committee
15. Councillor Earthey
Subject: i360
Given the size of the loan made to the i360, why did BHCC not take out a Credit Default Swap or similar credit risk management instrument to protect itself from counterparty default?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
16. Councillor Earthey
Subject: i360
What improvement to BHCC’s financial risk management governance, policies, and procedures will the new Labour Administration make in the light of BHCC’s experience with the i360?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
17. Councillor Earthey
Subject : Buses
Does the Committee support the introduction of a comprehensive ‘Metro’ or express-bus service to the eastern half of the city to make up for its lack of railway stations, currently leading to excessive journey times for commuters?
Reply from Councillor Muten, Chair of Transport & Sustainability Committee
18. Councillor Earthey
Subject : BHCC Carbon Neutral Fund
What improvements to the governance of the Carbon Neutral Fund will the new Labour Administration make, covering its terms of reference, transparency, eligibility of projects to receive funds, forecasts of Carbon reduction benefits, accurate reporting of actual measured benefits, and full accounting for any failures to yield expected reductions?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
19. Councillor Earthey
Subject: i360
What steps has the new Labour Administration taken to impose a rigorous assessment of the i360’s latest business plan where that assessment includes analysis from suitably-qualified professional staff drawn from the City’s hospitality and commercial sectors?
Reply from Councillor Sankey, Leader of the Council
20. Councillor Earthey
Subject: BHCC Waste Recycling
What effective steps will the new Labour Administration take to increase the amount of City waste that is genuinely being recycled as opposed to genuinely being incinerated?
Reply from Councillor Rowkins, Chair of City Environment, South Downs & The Sea Committee