Council

Agenda Item 28

       

Subject:                    Looking after our heritage

 

Date of meeting:    10 July 2025

 

Proposer:                 Councillor Miller

Seconder:                Councillor Evans

 

Ward(s) affected:   All

 

 

Notice of Motion

 

Labour Group Amendment

 

That deletions are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional recommendations are added as shown in bold italics below:

 

This council notes:

 

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

 

2)    Although there are18 at-risk sites are listed by Historic England across the city, many others, perhaps are 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 16th century dovecote surrounded by fencing; a rare a 1930s clocktower with structural weakness; Patcham Place sports pavilion vandalized and closed down  included in the list of planned pavilion upgrades in Administration’s’s Playing Pitch Strategy;; 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 caused by fourteen years of austerity under the previous national government and the subsequent lack of funding for the restoration and maintenance of the country’s heritage assets, 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; , which has been recognising that the total national budget for Historic England was only £117m in 2023/24

 

5)    The significant reputational damage the council suffers when heritage treasured by residents and in full view of tourists is left to deteriorate; and concern expressed by residents and visitors has led to this administration’s determination to begin the restoration programme for Madeira Terraces and the seafront heritage lanterns, whose restoration begins autumn 2025.

 

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

 

Therefore, resolves to:

 

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

 

2)    Note the ongoing consultation with residents and community groups to guide future investment in the city’s heritage, recognising the social, educational and public value of cultural regeneration.

 

3)    Request the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers as part of any review how the Council can strengthen partnerships with local arts organisations, schools, colleges, universities, and heritage groups to promote cultural education and inclusive access to our heritage.

 

Supporting Information:

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

 

Recommendations to read if carried:

 

This Council Notes:

 

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

 

2)    18 at risk sites are listed by Historic England, others, are less well-known

 

3)    Patcham, is home to Brighton’s oldest church, a 16th century dovecote; a 1930s clocktower; Patcham Place sports pavilion, included in the list of planned pavilion upgrades in Administration’s’s Playing Pitch Strategy; and Patcham Peace Gardens which the U3A maintain;

 

4)    Tourists and residents note the poor state of the city’s heritage caused by fourteen years of austerity under the previous national government and the subsequent lack of funding for the maintenance of the country’s heritage assets, recognising that the total national budget for Historic England was only £117m in 2023/24

 

5)    The reputational damage and concern expressed by residents and visitors has led to this administration’s determination to begin the restoration programme for Madeira Terraces and the seafront heritage lanterns, whose restoration begins autumn 2025.

 

6)    That officers have recommended a review be completed of all council-owned heritage assets to establish the full extent of the problem.

 

Therefore, resolves to:

 

1)    Request that the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee consider undertaking a cross-party Task & Finish Group review of all council-controlled heritage assets, addressing potential timelines and funding for restoration and maintenance;

 

2)    Note the ongoing consultation with residents and community groups to guide future investment in the city’s heritage, recognising the social, educational and public value of cultural regeneration.

 

3)    Request the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers as part of any review how the Council can strengthen partnerships with local arts organisations, schools, colleges, universities, and heritage groups to promote cultural education and inclusive access to our heritage.