Agenda item - Written questions from members of the public.

A list of public questions received by the due date of the 21 January 2010 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum at the meeting.

 

42.1       The Mayor reported that five written question had been received from a members of the public and invited Mr. Hawtree to come forward and address the council.

 

42.2       Mr. Hawtree asked the following question;

 

          “Could Councillor Smith please tell us when work will begin on the next Library Plan?”

         

42.3       Councillor Smith replied, “Last January, the Council unanimously approved the Library Plan which covers the three years from April 2009 to March 2012.  Library Services will begin work on a new three year plan in 2011.”

 

42.4       Mr. Hawtree asked the following supplementary question;

 

          “Thank you very much for that Councillor Smith and, of course, as I know one doesn’t need a pachydermous memory to recall that meeting at full Council a year ago, which came to the Council after some delays the current Library Plan; but also the current Plan at no point mentions the braxy notion of reconfiguring the Jubilee Library to contain the Local History Centre. 

 

          Can I now ask you, Councillor Smith, as that Plan was not only perhaps misleadingly presented to such an extent of not mentioning the radical proposal which came some 11 months later, will you now set up a panel of Councillors, independently advised, to discuss ways in which that large space can now instead be used to contain more general stock and shelving as residents have regularly asked?”

 

42.5       Councillor Smith replied, “At the last Cabinet meeting Councillor Mary Mears announced that she was setting up a commission to look into the future of the History Centre and everything else and that would be taken up.”

 

42.6       The Mayor thanked Mr. Hawtree for his questions and invited Mr. Elkin to come forward and address the council. 

 

42.7       Mr. Elkin asked the following question;

 

          “Is it right that you and your Party were not voted in at the last council elections?  What is the idea of having a go at the last elections or is there a Parliamentary Election this year that would mean that you are not interested in the electorate that you are supposed to serve?”

 

42.8       Councillor Mitchell replied, “Mr Elkin, thank you ever so much for coming here this afternoon to ask your question. 

 

Actually, Councillors from all parties were voted on to this council at the last election and the current make-up of all the Councillors here means that no one party is in overall control of the council.  The current Administration is not being stopped from operating at all.  However, individual parties do differ from time to time on some issues, issues like how taxpayers’ money should be spent and also on different points of policy where Opposition Councillors are entitled to put forward different points of view and also different ideas.  This is actually good democracy at work but I really do believe, Mr Elkin, that every single Councillor in this Chamber this afternoon does work hard and does put the good of the city at the forefront during that work.”

 

42.9       Mr. Elkin asked the following supplementary question;

 

          “I can remember back when Labour were in charge of the council, won the council elections there and started to put in place against the people near the King Alfred their plans.  They are against, every single house there in Vallance Gardens and Hove Street were against and had a go at the council.”

 

42.10    Councillor Mitchell replied, “I remember that very well indeed, Mr Elkin, as well and that was again during a time of no overall political control on the council.  The Labour Administration worked to put forward a plan for regenerating that site, for providing a sports complex at no cost to taxpayers that was supported by a very controversial housing development.  I can assure you that at each and every step along the way there was consultation, there was both the legal and statutory consultation.  It took an awful long time to go through but I do agree with you it was extremely controversial.”

 

42.11    The Mayor thanked Mr. Elkin for his questions and invited Miss. Willcock to come forward and address the council. 

 

42.12    Miss. Willcock asked the following question;

 

          “Can Councillor Smith confirm please that various groups, and other interested people, will be able to take part in continuing discussions about the Brighton History Centre?"

 

42.13    Councillor Smith replied, “A thorough consultation process will be taking place to support the development of the Keep.  We will also be setting up a Local History Support Group to work with us in developing local and family history services within the city.  Local interest groups and other interested people will be invited to take part in the consultation process.”

 

42.14    Miss Willcock asked the following supplementary question;

 

          “That is really most reassuring, thanks Councillor Smith. 

 

          As decisions that are made for this highly valued facility must in the future be based on evidence that is both representative and fully accountable, would you kindly assure us that both a clear, detailed Mission Statement for the Group and minutes of its meetings will be made accessible to all interested parties?”

 

42.15    Councillor Smith replied, “I will.”

 

42.16    The Mayor thanked Miss. Willcock for her questions and invited Ms. Murray to come forward and address the council. 

 

42.17    Ms. Murray asked the following question;

 

          “Several activities within the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982, come under the 2003 Licensing Act, which states: ‘The fee is to recover the administration, inspection and enforcement costs of licensing authorities which arise from carrying out their licensing functions under the Act’. Licensed under the Act are Off Licenses that pay approx £180 a year, have specific licence criteria and commonly consume more council resources than a Licensed Sex Establishment.  As councils are able to accomplish this for a mere £180 fee, why do Sex Establishment renewal fees carry a far higher cost, for universally utilising far less council resources?"

 

42.18    Councillor Cobb replied, “Sex shop licence fees are set at local discretion at a level that the council reasonably believes will cover the costs of providing this service.  This ensures that the General Fund and council taxpayers are not subsidising this service.  Licensing fees under the Licensing Act 2003 are set nationally.  The local government bodies for lobbying for a fair settlement with income covering costs of administrating the service.”

 

42.19    Ms. Murray asked the following supplementary question;

 

          “If that’s the case how are those fees actually justified when other discretionary licensing fees for bingo halls, adult entertainment centres, family entertainment centres are actually set in the region of £500 per annum and what you are proposing to charge us is actually £10,000 per annum?”

 

42.20    Councillor Cobb replied, “All fees and activities are monitored by officers and fees are amended accordingly.  Sex establishment fees cover the whole business: administration, unauthorised activities, enforcement and legal costs.”

 

42.21    The Mayor thanked Ms. Murray for her questions and invited Mr. Carder to come forward and address the council. 

 

 

 

 

 

42.22    Mr. Carder asked the following question;

 

          “Users retain concerns about removing Brighton History Centre resources to The Keep, finding no mention in council minutes until last month.  Will the Cabinet Member for Culture:

 

a)         explain the decision process and reasons, pointing to documentation;

b)         state how and when inclusion of the Centre’s resources was allowed for in The Keep’s design;

c)         state if and when microform resources and books are to be removed from the Centre to the Jubilee Library;

d)         state whether library users will enjoy the present instant access to microforms; and

e)         state if there will be an overall loss of microform readers?

 

42.23    Councillor Smith replied, “I will answer (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) for you.

 

(a)   The development of The Keep has been discussed at various Council meetings, including; Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee meetings in 2007 and 2008, and Policy & Resources Committee and Cabinet Meetings in 2008 and 2009.

 

(b)   The scope of resources for Brighton & Hove that will be included is still being discussed as part of The Keep development process.

 

(c)    Only duplicate materials and on-line resources will be relocated to Jubilee Library.

 

(d)   Service users will be able to enjoy the same access to microforms in the History Centre as currently provided.

 

(e)   There will be no overall loss of microform readers.”

 

42.24    Mr. Carder asked the following supplementary question;

 

          “In view of your answer to Part (a) I was hoping to understand the decision to remove the Brighton History Centre to The Keep, which you didn’t mention.  Can you tell me what the decision process on deciding the removal of the Brighton History Centre to The Keep was as opposed to the development of The Keep?”

 

42.25    Councillor Smith replied, “We are still considering what items are going to The Keep and it will be coming to committees later on.”

 

42.26    The Mayor thanked Mr. Carder for his questions.