Issue - items at meetings - Petitions

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

61(i)   Petition – review of bus lanes on the A259 coast road

 

61.1    The petition had been withdrawn.

 

61(ii)  Petition – opposition to communal bins in First Avenue

 

61.2       Councillor Watkins presented a petition signed by 8 people concerning opposition to communal bins in First Avenue.

 

61.3       The Cabinet Member gave assurance that the consultation on the location of communal bins would be extended to include First Avenue.

 

61.4       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(iii)  Petition – review of the Vogue Gyratory and local area

 

61.5       Councillor Marsh had submitted a petition signed by 41 people concerning a request to review the Vogue Gyratory system and local area.

 

61.6       Councillor Marsh was unable to attend the meeting.

 

61.7       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

61(iv) Petition – road safety in Highdown Road

 

61.8       Councillor Davis presented a petition signed by 269 people concerning road safety issues in Highdown Road.

 

61.9       The Cabinet Member referred Councillor Davis to his response to the deputation on the same issue at Item 60.

 

61.10    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and written response provided to address the additional points raised by Councillor Davis.

 

61(v)  Petition – safe access to Preston Park

 

61.11    Councillor Kennedy presented a petition signed by 324 people concerning safe access to Preston Park.

 

61.12    Councillor Kennedy submitted a late addition to the petition bringing the total to 358 signatures.

 

61.13    The Cabinet Member stated that he had instructed officers to investigate access into Preston Park at the specified junction and understood that, whilst there had been some minor collisions, there was no serious accident history. The Cabinet Member stated that there was an alternative crossing point to the north that was currently underused, and so would ask officers from Transport and Cityparks to further review access arrangements into the Park to find a solution.

 

61.14    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(vi) Petition – traffic calming measures in Chalky Road/Fox

 

61.15    Councillor Carden presented a petition signed by 288 people concerning a request for traffic calming measures in Chalky Road/Fox Way.

 

61.16    The Cabinet Member offered his condolences to the family and friends of the child who sadly died as a result of the collision with a car in Chalky Road. The Cabinet Member reported that he and Councillor Trevor Alford, who had previously submitted a petition on this issue, had met officers on site to discuss the issues that had been raised and explore possible actions; officers would now be investigating the possibility and feasibility of extra measures in Chalky Road.

 

61.17    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(vii) Petition – Meadowview/Tenantry local bus service

 

61.18    Councillor Meadows had submitted a petition signed by 19 people concerning dissatisfaction with the Meadowview/Tenantry local bus service.

 

61.19    Councillor Mitchell received the response on behalf of Councillor Meadows who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

61.20    The Cabinet Member was pleased to report that the council had renewed the contract for the supported Route 37, and so the future of this service was secure. The Cabinet Member also reported that that the council had specified a low floor, wheelchair and buggy accessible bus for the service, and that Brighton & Hove Buses had put a similar vehicle on their commercial service 38, since the introduction of the Winter timetables on 28 September 2008. The Cabinet Member added that a representative of the bus company had attended the CAG meeting on 3 September 2008, and that the issues of reliability were discussed.

 

61.21    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(viii)Petition – parking in Eggington Close

 

61.22    Councillor Caulfield presented a petition signed by 23 people concerning parking problems in Eggington Close.

 

61.23    The Cabinet Member stated that officers had identified that responsibility for the grassed areas in Eggington Close was split between Housing and Highways. The Cabinet Member advised that as it was not entirely clear from the petition which areas were being suggested for parking, some further discussions would be required and I understand that the council’s Housing Car Parks & Garages Manager has kindly agreed to contact the local Residents Association to discuss the matter further. The Cabinet Member added that he was sure that if would be possible for the two Directorates to work together to consider the possible options available to address residents’ concerns.

 

61.24    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(ix) Petition – support for a 24 hour noise abatement service

 

61.25    Councillor Caulfield presented a petition signed by 493 people concerning support for a 24 hour noise abatement service.

 

61.26    The Cabinet Member thanked Councillor Caulfield for presenting the petition as it served as a timely reminder about the service. He stated that he was aware that sometimes residents felt that the only response to noise complaints was the weekend night time noise patrol but that the council had a full service that responded appropriately throughout the rest of the week. The Cabinet Member stated that he appreciated that many people may not have been aware of the full service offered and so felt that the council needed to communicate more clearly with the public to raise awareness of the valued, effective and extensive noise service. The Cabinet Member reported that he had asked that information would be provided in as many ways as possible including using council newsletters, City News, wider distribution of our noise information leaflets and posters.

 

61.27    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(x)  Petition – parking in Maresfield Road

 

61.28    Councillor Morgan had submitted a petition signed by 78 people concerning parking problems in Maresfield Road.

 

61.29    Councillor Mitchell presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Morgan who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

61.30    The Cabinet Member stated that Maresfield Road would be part of a parking review of an extension to the current Area H parking scheme which was due to begin at the end of November with parking surveys.  Residents in Maresfield Road would be consulted next year on whether they wished to be included within the detailed design for a parking scheme which he hope would help solve some of the parking issues

 

61.31    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(xi)Petition – request for high fence around Hove Park Bowls Club green

 

61.32    Councillor Fallon-Khan presented a petition signed by 48 people concerning a request to erect a high fence around Hove Park Bowls Club green.

 

61.33    The Cabinet Member stated that the problem with erecting a high fence around the green would be the visual impact, and that other users of the park were likely to object. The Cabinet Member advised that the newly appointed Park Rangers would help to address any problems of anti-social behaviour and that the council would consider possible solutions to the problem.

 

61.34    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

61(xii) Petition – congestion calming measures in Highbank

 

61.35    Councillor Drake had submitted a petition signed by 20 people concerning a request to consider congestion calming measures in Highbank.

 

61.36    Councillor Drake was unable to attend the meeting due to official Council business.

 

61.37    RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.