Date of meeting: 10 July 2025

Proposer: Councillor McNair

Seconder: Councillor Meadows

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Conservative Group

This council notes:

1) Brighton & Hove is home to nationally significant cultural treasures, from Saxon churches to the Royal Pavilion;

2) Although there are 18 at-risk sites listed by Historic England across the city, many others, perhaps less well-known, were not included;

3) Patcham is in the Domesday book and is home to Brighton’s oldest church, All Saints. However, it is also home to a 16^th century dovecote surrounded by fencing; a rare 1930s clocktower with structural weakness; Patcham Place sports pavilion vandalized and closed down; and Patcham Peace Gardens with its neglected and dilapidated Doric Temple and gardens which the U3A work hard to maintain;

4) Tourists and residents note the poor state of the city’s heritage which Brighton & Hove City Council is responsible for: the art deco bus shelters in Old Steine complete with smashed windows and graffiti; the shocking state of disrepair of the seafront shelters;

5) The significant reputational damage the council suffers when heritage treasured by residents and in full view of tourists is left to deteriorate;

6) That officers have recommended a review be completed of all council-owned heritage assets because the extent of the problem is widespread but also not fully known.

Therefore, resolves to:

1) Request that the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers a cross-party Task & Finish Group review is undertaken of all council-controlled heritage assets, addressing potential timelines for restoring and maintaining our assets, to be undertaken by December 2025;

Supporting Information:

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24724533.18-sites-brighton-historic-england-heritage-risk-register/