Issue - items at meetings - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

 

(a)         Petitions: to receive any petitions presented to the full council or at the meeting itself - Report of the Head of Law detailing petitions received to date (copy attached) ;

 

(b)         Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on 16 January 2014- Report of the Head of Law, details of question received prior to publication (copy attached);

 

(c)         Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on 16 January 2014 – Extracts and report of the Head of Law setting out Deputations referred from Full Council (copy attached).

48a     Petitions

 

48.1    Two petitions had been received as set out below.

 

            Save the Hippodrome for Live Performances

 

48.2    The following petition had been received containing 1083 signatures.

 

“We the undersigned petition the council to use its best endeavours and take every opportunity to bring the Hippodrome in Middle Street back into use as a versatile space for live performance in accordance with aspirations expressed in the CP5 Culture and Tourism section of the proposed City Plan (February 2013).

 

Justification

 

As a Grade II* listed building with an interior of national historical importance, the Hippodrome is the only surviving space of its kind and size in the city. It is top of the Theatre Trust’s list of English theatre buildings at risk.

 

In seeking to promote cultural tourism, the City Council should be aware of the need for a larger theatre capable of attracting top-class theatrical, musical and dance productions. The Hippodrome could be used in a variety of modes; as a proscenium theatre, as a theatre-in-the-round or with a thrust or open stage, for ‘circus’ type of performances similar to the Roundhouse in Camden, London.

 

Such a venue would significantly enhance the city’s appeal to visitors, attracting audiences from across a wide area, including London, helping to make Brighton the principal cultural hub of the south-east region. It should be recognised that converting the space into a multi-screen cinema would not contribute anything to this aspiration. Indeed, over-provision of cinemas, leading to unsustainable competition, could lead to a net loss of venues.”

 

48.3    Mr Fisher the lead petitioner was invited to address the Committee for 3 minutes in support of his petition following which the Chair, Councillor Bowden responded in the following terms: (1099 signatures in total e petition and paper petition)

 

48.4    The Chair, Councillor Bowden responded in the following terms:

 

            “The wonderful building that is the Hippodrome is clearly at risk, at risk of redundancy and demolition. The Local Authority does not own that building. Live Nation the owners, have exhausted the possibilities of refurbishing the venue as an operational music venue and have had to look more laterally at what could be done to save the building. The potential scheme that has come forward as far as pre-planning discussions from Alaska working with a cinema operator is at very early stages. English Heritage has been consulted and due planning process will take its course.

 

The Local Authority, is looking to make cuts of around £125m over the next 5 years. The call on remaining funds, the prioritisation of spend and working out what local authority does and doesn’t do going forward is going to get harder and harder.  What I can say with certainty at this point, is that there really is no chance that there would be any public funding locally, either from the Local Authority or from the Arts Council, either capital or revenue, towards the restoration of the Hippodrome for theatre or indeed any other purpose.

 

It would be devastating to see the loss of the building for future generations. The plans coming forward have a good deal of due process to go through and the authorities are engaging with those as they develop.”

 

48.5    RESOLVED - That the contents of the petition be received and noted.

 

            Save Brighton Speed Trials

 

48.6    The following e petition had been received containing 12,430 signatures.

 

“We the undersigned petition the council to accept the application by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club to run the 2014 Brighton Speed Trials on Madeira Drive.

 

Justification:

The Speed Trials is part of Brighton’s heritage having run in the area since 1905. Thousands of people come down to the seafront for an entertaining fun-packed day out for the whole family to watch race cars and motor bikes compete along Madeira Drive.

The event has grown over the years and now even enjoys international acclaim. It has the full support and backing of the Motorsport Association and adheres to their strict rules of safety.

The end of the Speed Trials will be the end of an era for Brighton. It will have a major negative financial impact on tourism and trade in the area and mean the loss of one of the highlights on Brighton’s seafront entertainment calendar.

Please sign the petition and help keep the Speed Trials going.

A decision will be made by the council’s Economic Development and Culture Committee at a meeting on 23 January 2014.” (12,430 signatures e petition)

 

48.7    Mr Watts the lead petitioner was invited to address the Committee for 3 minutes in support of the petition.

 

48.8    The Chair, Councillor Bowden responded explaining that a report relating to the “Brighton Speed Trials” appeared at Item 51 on that afternoon’s agenda and would form the subject of full discussion and debate at that point in the meeting.

 

48.9    RESOLVED - That the contents of the petition be received and noted.

 

48b     Written Questions

 

48.10  The following written question had been submitted by R Lowe

 

            Brighton Ultra-Fast Broadband

 

“How will the ultra fast broadband work in practice, will it cover the whole city, or is it only provided to businesses/companies at present?”

 

48.11  The Chair, Councillor Bowden responded in the following terms:

 

“The government’s Super Connected Cities Project aim to provide grant funding to improve digital connectivity.  Brighton & Hove City Council was successful in bidding for this funding.  Initially the government was allowing the funding to be spent on improving fixed broadband infrastructure so that parts of the city that have not benefited from the commercial roll out could have the infrastructure improved. However, the government subsequently advised that the funding could not be used for fixed infrastructure as it carries the risk of being considered ‘state aid’ – distorting the commercial market with public money.

Instead the emphasis of the project has moved towards a connection voucher scheme, which will offer vouchers of £250 to £3,000 for small businesses and charity/third sector organisations to install internet connections that achieve a step change in connectivity. 

The connection voucher scheme is nationally designed and will be locally administered, with it expected to open in Brighton & Hove in mid to late February. The Council will focus initially on marketing of the scheme on the Creative, Digital and IT sectors, before widening out to other businesses.

The connection voucher scheme will only be open to small businesses and charity/third sector organisations. It will not be open to private individuals, though most domestic next generation broadband connections would fall below the £250 minimum voucher value anyway.

We are also exploring using the funding to improve wireless connectivity in the city, building on the Metro Wireless concession which will see council owned street furniture used to host equipment which will create a network of new wireless access points across the city centre. These access points will be operated by the successful bidder.

49.12  Mr Lowe then asked a supplementary question (as permitted) and asked whether the bid made had taken into account educational providers and third sector organisations such as the Community Centre. The Head of City Regeneration stated that the existing arrangements did include the ability to create “hot spots” in public buildings. He believed that this included local colleges and the local universities but would check on the point in order that a written response could be provided to Mr Lowe on this point.

 

48.13  RESOLVED – That the question and response given be noted and received.

 

48c     Deputations

 

48.14  It was noted that two Deputations had been referred to the committee from the meeting of Full Council on 12 December 2013. It was noted that as both sets of Deputees had had the opportunity to speak at council no further speaking rights were permitted at the Committee.

 

(i)         Article 4, Planning Requirements & HMOs

 

48.15  The Committee considered the Deputation put by Ms Harding at Full Council on 12 December 2014 (which had been circulated with the Committee papers for that days meeting):

 

48.16  ‘As you can see from the deputation in front of you, I’m concerned about the quality and completeness of the data that we hold in the city about houses of multiple occupation.

 

Under the Article 4 Planning Rule we make decisions based on this data; if there are too many recorded houses of multiple occupation in certain areas, no one will be allowed. This affects me because I live in Hollingbury Road. When we did a quick assay of our road we find about twice as many houses of multiple occupation as are recorded on the Council’s Licensing List but why should it concern you?

 

I think the reasons that it should concern you are that as an organisation committed to open data; you should try to ensure that your data is as clear, complete and concise as possible. By underestimating the number of houses of multiple occupation, we run the risk as a city on missing out on rebates for houses where Council Tax is not paid, this should be a real concern in these times.

 

The Article 4 arrangement for allowing planning permission for HMO’s is a 5 year trial. If we do not base this on correct data, we do not make our decisions on correct and accurate data. We cannot fairly evaluate the trial and see if it has been successful or not also if we do not hold the list which is accurate about houses of multiple occupation we will not be able to protect the tenants therein which is a responsibility that we hold.

 

I would ask that we make better use of the data that we hold and encourage more preparation between private sector housing group and the planning services so that we can provide a better service.”

 

48.17  The response given by Councillor Mac Cafferty at the meeting of Full Council was noted and received.

 

48.18  RESOLVED – That the contents of the Deputation be noted and received.

 

(ii)        Brighton Speed Trials

 

48.19  The Committee considered the Deputation put by Mr Taylor at Full Council on 12 December 2014 (which had been circulated with the Committee papers for that days meeting):

 

48.20  The City of Brighton and Hove is somewhere we can all be very proud of, I’m particularly proud of Brighton and Hove being one of the newer Cities. One of Brighton’s greatest assets is that it is a City of great diversity. It welcomes everyone no matter what their background or lifestyle, it allows a freedom of expression that gives power to the individual. It doesn’t criticise, pass judgement or persecute minority interests. In simple words; no matter who you are, what you like or even dislike you will find it somewhere in the City of Brighton and Hove.

 

A decision has been taken by Brighton and Hove Council not to accept the Brighton and Hove Motor Club application to run the 2014 Brighton speed trials on Madeira Drive. From the comments passed on to the club, this is predominantly due to a view that this event does not fit in with a modern Brighton. We believe this decision would be detrimental to the City both now and in the future.

 

A great City is not judged solely on the present day which by its nature is transitory and fast moving, but it builds on the foundation of its past to create an exciting future, Brighton is renowned as the City of many cultures and prides itself on its longstanding combination of both the modern and the old. Its history is known throughout the United Kingdom and Worldwide.

 

The Brighton speed trials is at the very heart of that heritage, Brighton has the very real and unique privilege of being the only holder of a specific act of Parliament that enables a motorsport trial of speed to take place on the public highway. It is ironic that at the same time as Brighton’s considering this decision there is work taking place at Westminster by the Motorsports Association to campaign for greater access to the public road network on mainland Britain for motorsport activities.

 

Progress is being made in this regard with enthusiastic support from Local Authorities that recognise the huge benefits accrued by such events. Brighton has the enviable advantage but must surely seek to retain it’s unique position with the valuable legislation that it enjoys.

 

The idea for the speed event in Brighton was first suggested in 1902 however it wasn’t until 2 years in 1905 that a local man Sir. Harry Preston persuaded the town corporation to surface Madeira Drive using the pioneering material of tarmac as its surface and this was in fact the first of it’s kind.

 

The Town Council collaborated with the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland later to become known as the Motorsports Association, to organise an event know as Brighton Motorweek which ran from the 19^th-22^nd July and consisted of a series of Motor races.

 

The first event ran westwards from Black Rock to the Aquarium, the opposite direction to which the race currently runs, it attracted over 400 entries timed by the flying Kilometre. During the first event there were 3 world records set. The BHMC believe the trials have and continue to bring considerable economic benefit to the town resulting in hoteliers, restauranteurs and all manner of retailers enjoying the impact of the event.

 

Motorsport is often misunderstood as a sport casually dismissed as an environmental catastrophe which in fact the opposite is true. Motorsport and it’s engineering challenges have driven the development of all major environmental benefits to the internal combustion engine allowing ever greater efficiency in the power extracted, furthermore the rate of change within the sport enabled progress of mainstream technologies to be significantly sped up.

 

This has included hybrid technology and kinetic energy recovery systems. We urge the Council not to throw away history but instead to look for inspiration to their forefathers on the Town Council. The loss of this even will also result in the closure of Brighton and Hove Motorclub after nearly 100 years and the loss to the Council of a tenant.“

 

48.21  The Chair, Councillor Bowden referred to the report at Item 51 on that day’s agenda entitled “Brighton Speed Trials”. He confirmed that full discussion and debate would take place when considering that item.

 

48.22  RESOLVED – That the contents of the Deputation be noted and received.