1. Purpose of the report and policy context

1.1 To receive any petitions submitted directly to Democratic Services or any e-Petition submitted via the council’s website.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That Council notes the petition(s).

3. Context and background information

3.1 To receive the following petition:

Request to Implement Controlled Parking Zone: Elms Lea Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6UG

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to consider implementing a controlled parking zone on the residential road of Elms Lea Avenue. Implementing a CPZ on the avenue would primarily prioritise parking for residents and regulate vehicle occupancy. It would also facilitate easier access to driveways for all residents; there are often daily issues where public vehicles block driveways hampering residents' access to and from their properties. In addition to this, the residents feel that the lack of an CPZ has led to a greater prevalence of abandoned vehicles on the avenue. Not only does this cause residential access issues it has (most recently) resulted in incidents where council officials have had to tackle chemical spills from abandoned vehicles or deal with the burden of vehicle removal.

We respectfully ask Brighton & Hove City Council to consider this proposal.

The residents would be open to discuss CPZ options available (i.e. a Mon-Fri restriction) and work with the council to decide the best option to benefit everyone: be that residents of Elms Lea Avenue and the public.

3.2 To receive the following petition:

Support Brighton Buskers: Designated Spaces, Amplification and Shelter

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to:

1) Officially designate the area around the Upside-Down House on Brighton seafront as a permanent busking zone,

2) Permit amplification and percussion instruments at this location,

3) Encourage/Advise local shops and businesses nearby they need to be busker-friendly,

4) Create additional designated busking spots across Brighton & Hove. particularly along the seafront, in The Lanes and throughout the city centre, ideally with simple shelter structures (like a canopy or overhead cover) to help protect performers from the weather. Brighton is known for its creativity, openness, and vibrant street life. Street performance brings culture, joy, and atmosphere to our public spaces and should be supported, not suppressed.

Recently, a restrictive sign was installed at the Upside-Down House prohibiting the use of amplifiers, drums, and warning of potential seizure of instruments. This approach silences creativity and goes against the spirit of our city. Busking (especially in open-air spaces like the seafront) requires amplification to be heard. Banning drums unfairly excludes entire musical styles and performers. We ask Brighton & Hove City Council to take a positive and proactive approach by supporting buskers through dedicated spaces, fair rules, and thoughtful design. Other cities, like London (through the "Busk in London" initiative), have installed small structures like "The Shell" to offer performers and audiences a focused, protected environment, a model we could adapt locally. Let’s keep Brighton a place where music is made, shared, and celebrated in public; not pushed away or silenced.
Let Brighton Play. Support Street Music. Shelter the Artists. This petition simply aims to preserve and support Brighton's street music culture. The Upside-Down House has become a key location for busking, but current restrictions are discouraging performers. We are asking the Council to recognize this space officially, allow for appropriate amplification and drums, and to provide additional designated busking spots across the city (ideally with some shelter to protect buskers from the weather).

Providing structured and supportive spaces for street performance benefits both the local community and the city’s cultural identity. Let’s follow successful examples from other cities and ensure Brighton continues to thrive as a hub for creativity and live public music.

3.3 To receive the following petition:

Petition objecting to the proposed closure of Rottingdean Library

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to keep Rottingdean Library open under local authority financing.

We strongly believe that the proposal to close the library is wrong.

Rottingdean Library is a well-used library with separate sections for children and teenagers.

This is important in an area that has an increasing number of families and is close to two primary schools and two nurseries. There are audio books as well as a wide range of books and groups, such as a book group, use the library as a central hub for the community. It is also the only place to go for free Wi-Fi and computer access if you do not have these facilities at home. There is support for people to use computers, printers and scanners.

We believe that closing this library would have a negative impact on our community, especially the elderly, children and those less advantaged. We urge you to ensure this library remains open.

3.4 To receive the following petition:

Bring Southern Water into public ownership

We the undersigned call upon our councillors to write to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed urging that the government brings Southern Water into public ownership.

Southern Water has been plagued by poor performance, excess debt, and mismanagement going on for many years. It’s incurred a shocking £94 million in fines, the highest in the industry. It has amassed more than £6bn of debt - one of the UK's most indebted water companies (BBC). Now to top it all, it has raised prices by 47%, taking average bill to £703, a huge jump from the 2024-25 average of £478. In a cost of living crisis, many will struggle to pay this amount. Meanwhile consumers face sewage leaks in rivers and the sea, and a failure to invest over many decades since privatisation. 82% of voters across all parties want water in public ownership, to end the mismanagement of the failed privatisation model. Public ownership of Southern Water should include in its governance structure a role for households, workers and anti-sewage groups, alongside local councillors.