Agenda for Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting on Tuesday, 24th March, 2009, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 209 KBVenue: Committee Room 3, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Caroline De Marco, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 82a Declarations of Interests
82.1 There were none.
82b Exclusion of Press and Public
82.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (the Act), the Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100(I) of the Act).
82.3 RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 February 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 83.1 Councillor Davis referred to paragraph 78.9 of the minutes in relation to the negotiations for the lease of the Foredown Tower. She asked if she could see the Heads of Terms at some point. It was confirmed that the Heads of Terms had been sent to the solicitor of the Sea Cadets and had been sent back for comments. A meeting with the Sea Cadets would be held in the next few days. The Principal Solicitor confirmed that it would be in order for Councillor Davis to see the Heads of Terms.
83.2 RESOLVED - That the minutes of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting held on 10 February 2009 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member.
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: Conference Wins 84.1 The Cabinet Member reported that VisitBrighton exhibited at International Confex, the leading event for event organisers from 24 to 26 February. Enquires taken at the event had the potential of bringing over £8 million of direct economic benefit to the City. The VisitBrighton stand was ‘commended’ in the category Best UK Destination (UK Venues, Destinations and Incentive Travel sector).
84.2 VisitBrighton was delighted to have secured the 'Summer Eventia', one of the events industry’s foremost annual events staged by the trade body and an excellent opportunity to showcase the City. The conference would be taking place from 5th – 7th July 2009 at the Holiday Inn and would bring 250 delegates to the city.
84.3 The Cabinet Member was pleased to announce the return to the city of the Museums Associations Annual Conference. The event will be held at The Brighton Centre from 2nd to 7th October 2011 for over 800 delegates bringing over £2m of economic benefit to the City.
Brighton & Hove wins national magazine readers’ award.
84.4 The Cabinet Member reported that the city had been voted “Best all-round British Seaside Holiday Destination” by the readers of Coast magazine in their annual awards. Coast magazine celebrated all that is great about the British seaside and had the following to say about Brighton & Hove, “Whether you’re after a funky arts scene, Regency heritage, beachfront cool or good old-fashioned seaside entertainment, Brighton has something for everyone.”
Media coverage in the UK and overseas
84.5 The Cabinet Member reported that since the start of 2009, the work of VisitBrighton had secured coverage in a range of national publications and TV in both the UK and overseas.
84.6 In the UK, features on the city had appeared in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror, Conde Nast Traveller Magazine and Marie Claire among others. In the city’s key overseas markets coverage had been achieved in Welt am Sonntag and Sonntag Aktuell (German national papers), El Mundo (Spanish national paper) and Reisen (Dutch travel magazine). In the Sonntag Aktuell newspaper the city was wonderfully described as “Where trendsetters go swimming” whilst El Mundo described Brighton as “one of the coolest cities in the UK” and “a city where everyone is welcome”.
84.7 In the last month, Brighton & Hove had also been featured in Ireland’s most popular TV travel programme, ‘No Frontiers’.
Greeter scheme 84.8 The Cabinet Member reported that following his decision to launch the visitor greeter scheme, the city had received great publicity and coverage about the scheme from South Today, Breakfast Southern Counties, coverage in The Argus, the Leader, one80 news and in City News. From this positive coverage he was pleased to announce that 10 volunteers had expressed interest in becoming greeters.
84.9 Visit Brighton were also working closely with the environment team in improving public realm for visitors and residents by 'wrapping' boarded up shops with Visit Brighton images (as well as other 'painting' type images). Damart on Queens Road would shortly be having the picture of the sea with the Visit Brighton web address on amongst others.
Brighton Festival Launch
84.10 The Cabinet Member reported that on 18 February he attended the launch of this year’s Brighton Festival – the event was extremely well attended and there was a great deal of excitement about this years programme. This would be the first Festival for the new Chief Executive of the Brighton Dome and Festival Andrew Comben. The Cabinet Member was looking forward to going to many of the events in the programme. He was very sorry to have missed the launch of the Brighton Festival Fringe which was held the previous week – unfortunately at the same time as full council.
Jeremy Hunt – Shadow Minister for Culture
84.11 The Cabinet Member reported on a visit from the Shadow Minister for Culture, Jeremy Hunt on 25 February. He was invited by the Brighton and Hove Arts Commission. The Leader of the Council, the Cabinet Member and officers were able to have a very useful breakfast session with him to talk about priorities for the city and the particular importance of culture. The Shadow Minister was very impressed and it was likely that he would return for another visit in the future.
LGA conference
84.12 The Cabinet Member reported that the department put on a great show for the Local Government Association conference on Culture that was held in the Thistle hotel. There were nearly 300 delegates from all over the country – both officers and members. Officers ran a number of study tours around the city which were extremely well received. There were speakers in several of the sessions and Scott Marshall gave one of the opening presentations on the first day alongside government ministers and other national speakers. The Cabinet Member was very proud of the city and of the way the council was able to present its services. He congratulated the team of officers who were involved in making the conference a success.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 85.1 RESOLVED – That Item 92 be reserved for discussion.
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Report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).
Minutes:
86 Petition – Refurbishment of the Swimming Pool at Hangleton Junior School
86.1 The Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at Council on 29 January 2009 by Councillor Barnett and signed by 1104 people:
“We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove City Council to provide £50,000 to enable the refurbishment of the swimming pool at Hangleton Junior School. We further petition that Brighton & Hove City Council note that everyone at this school has worked extremely hard to raise money for this project and has already raised a contribution of £50,000.”
86.2 The Cabinet Member reported that he was sympathetic towards the desire to keep sports facilities open in the city and was pleased to announce a contribution of £5000 towards the cost of renovation. In addition, the council had also already committed a considerable amount of funding to keep the city’s largest wet and dry sports facility open at the King Alfred Leisure Centre.
86.3 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 17 March 2009)
No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 87.1 There were none. |
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 17 March 2009)
No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 88.1 There were none. |
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Letters from Councillors Proposal for the City’s Libraries – Energy Meters for Loan – Letter from Councillor Kitcat (copy attached).
Minutes: 89.1 The Cabinet Member considered a letter from Councillor Kitcat in which he requested that the Cabinet Member consider providing energy meters for loan from the city’s public libraries.
89.2 Councillor Kitcat attended the meeting and made the point that smart meters were used throughout the world and helped people to monitor their energy use. He considered that libraries were ideal for the hire of such meters and reported on a successful scheme in Lewisham, which was used by members of the public and council staff.
89.3 The Cabinet Member explained that he would be happy to see the city libraries used as a venue for the hire of energy meters to the public, as it would fit well within their community role. However, a decision on the cost of capital purchase of these meters would need to be made elsewhere, as they did not fall within the budget scope of the Libraries Service. The Cabinet Member informed Councillor Kitcat that he would formally write to him with a more detailed reply once he had taken into consideration views of officers from the Sustainability, Environmental, Policy and Housing teams.
89.4 RESOLVED – That the letter be noted and a more detailed reply be sent to Councillor Kitcat in due course. |
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 90.1 There were none. |
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Notices of Motions No Notices of Motion have been received by date of publication.
Minutes: 91.1 There were none. |
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Brighton Museum and Art Gallery: Change to Opening Hours Report of Director of Cultural Services (to be circulated separately). Decision: (1) That a change to the opening hours on Tuesdays and Sundays for Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, be approved. The Museum is currently open from 10.00 am-7.00 pm on Tuesdays, 10.00 am-5.00 pm Wednesday-Saturday and from 2.00-5.00 pm on Sundays.
(2) That it is approved that the Museum opens from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Tuesday-Sunday. The exact date of implementation will need to be agreed as soon as operationally possible.
Minutes: The special circumstance for non-compliance with Council Procedure Rule 23, Access to Information and Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act as amended (items not considered unless the agenda is open to inspection at least 5 days in advance of the meeting) is that staff consultation had not been finalised in time for the despatch of the agenda.
92.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Cultural Services which sought approval to a change in the opening hours of Brighton Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG). The museum was currently open until 7.00pm on Tuesdays. This late opening had not drawn the visitor numbers which were hoped for. There was a public demand however, for the museum to open earlier on Sundays.
92.2 The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion explained that the recommendation to open all day on Sundays reflected that the visitor numbers were considerably higher on Sundays. The recommended hours would be in line with the opening hours of the Royal Pavilion.
92.3 Councillor Davis asked if the new hours would be monitored in six months time. The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion confirmed that the new hours would be monitored. She was not able to report on an implementation date as rosters would need to be prepared and consultation would need to take place with staff. There would be a report back under Cabinet Member’s Communications at a future meeting.
92.4 RESOLVED – (1) That a change to the opening hours on Tuesdays and Sundays for Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, be approved. The Museum is currently open from 10.00 am-7.00 pm on Tuesdays, 10.00 am-5.00 pm Wednesday-Saturday and from 2.00-5.00 pm on Sundays.
(2) That it is approved that the Museum opens from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Tuesday-Sunday. The exact date of implementation will need to be agreed as soon as operationally possible.
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