Issue - items at meetings - Chair's Communications

42.1               The Chair provided the following Communications:

 “Last week, Councillor Janio and I were among 60 representatives gathered at Hollingbury Hill Fort to support the launch of the public consultation for Brighton & Hove and Lewes Downs to become an international Biosphere Reserve.

The public is being asked to back the Biosphere bid and have their say on the Biosphere Partnership’s draft management strategy through the project website.

A roadshow of further events will be travelling around the proposed Biosphere area over the next three months to meet people and display a stunning photographic exhibition of natural images of our area.

May I ask all members to please help spread the word – as we need a large expression of public support for this important project.

I am pleased to report that the Warm Homes Healthy People Programme, a partnership between the City Council, the NHS and the local voluntary and community sector, has successfully secured a Department of Health grant of £122,314.

This grant will be spent tackling cold homes and fuel poverty to address their impacts on health.  This will include training for front line workers; financial inclusion checks; free energy assessments and advice; an emergency response service and emergency grants.

I am also delighted to say we have been successful in receiving funding for the Green Deal Pioneer Places pilot scheme.  The council is leading a partnership with Brighton & Hove 10:10, Low Carbon Trust and the Green Building Partnership to offer 10 households the opportunity to win up to £10,000 worth of home-energy improvements each. There’s also the chance for 100 households to get a free, no obligation Green Deal Assessment worth up to £150.  Residents need to book an assessment by 11 February to qualify. More details are on the Brighton & Hove City Council website.

The council has also secured EU funding from the Cascade programme for a study visit on sustainable energy generation to Eindhoven in early March. I will be joined by Damian Tow, who chairs the City’s Sustainable Energy Working Group, and officers working on city energy options and infrastructure. 

Since the last meeting of this Committee I am happy to report that the final list of sites put forward for QEII Fields in Trust nomination consists of: Blakers Park; Carden Park; Hangleton Park; Horsdean Recreation Ground; Kingsway Bowls Club; St Nicholas Play Area and Woodingdean Central Park and Woodingdean Bowls Club.

I would like to thank the community representatives for putting their sites forward. 

The applications and plans were submitted to Fields in Trust who have confirmed all have been accepted. The final legal processes are expected to be completed by the end of this month. Each site will receive a plaque and a Royal Oak. Groups will also receive a toolkit to help them organise a launch event. 

And finally, I am pleased to announce that the final funding for the exciting new skate park at The Level is now in place - thanks to a £150,000 Olympic legacy grant from Sport England.

Work on the skatepark has now started and should be complete together with the rest of the Level rebuilding works by July of this year”.