Supported by:
Paul Roughsedge
Lynn Weddle
Nova Cookson
Hazel Baxter
Luke Meredith
Ian Wilson
Summary of Deputation:
We are bringing this deputation on behalf of residents of West Saltdean regarding Cabinet Item 34, concerning two historic green spaces designated as Local Green Space, known locally as Plot 2 and Plot 3 of The Greens on The Mount Estate.
These sites are covered by the 1938 Agreement betweenSaltdean Estate Company Limited and the Borough of Brighton, now Brighton & Hove City Council. The Agreement identifies the land as open space and includes Clause 4, which allows the Council to serve notice to take over the open spaces as public open spaces.
Residents are concerned that the published Cabinet report does not answer the Notice of Motionpassed by Full Council. The Notice of Motion askedfor a report on the processes, timescale and costs of invoking Clause 4. However, the report instead frames its purpose as seeking a Cabinet decision not to exercise the Council’s ability to take over the land.
That is a significant difference. A requestfor information about how Clause 4 could be invoked has become a recommendation to close that route down.
The report also relies on a central assumption: that “take over” means “acquire.” That assumption drives the report’s conclusions on purchase costs, maintenance costs, financial risk and proportionality. However, the publicreport does not explain why acquisition of the freeholdis legally requiredor assess whetherClause 4 could secure the land as public open space without purchase or transfer of ownership.
Residents are not asking Cabinetto buy the land today, create a formal park, or take onunnecessary infrastructure. The residents’ Friendsof the Greens volunteer group has maintained and cared for these spaces for almost two decades, without help from the Council or the landowners, and the community wants that resident-led stewardship to continue.
There are also unresolved factual concerns, including the report’s statement that ward councillors were consulted on the recommendations, the treatment of resident evidence, and the limited analysis of Local Green Space designation, which gives the land strong protection from development.
Our request:Cabinet should defer the recommendation, or amend it so that Cabinet does not agree not to invoke Clause 4 unless and until the report explains the legal basis for treating “take over” as acquisition and addresses whether Clause 4 can secure these historic Local Green Spaces as public open space without purchase or transfer of ownership.
Supporting Information:
Please see appendix