Agenda item - Petitions for Council Debate

Petitions to be debated at Council.  Reports of the Monitoring Officer (copies attached).

 

(a)         Bright Start Nursery - Lead Petitioner Alex Knutson.

 

(b)        Eco-Friendly Lights for St Ann’s Well Gardens - Lead Petitioner Councillor Melanie Davies.

 

Note:  A period of 15 minutes has been set aside for each petition debate.

 

Note:     Items 49(a) Petition for Debate and 57(c) Notice of Motion, concerning the Bright Start Nursery were taken by the Mayor at this point, but the minutes for each item have been detailed in the order of the agenda item number for ease of reference.

 

(a)          Bright Start

 

49.1               The Mayor stated that in view of the high level of interest in the issue affecting the Bright Start Nursery, he had decided that it would be appropriate to take both the petition, Item 47(a) and the notice of motion, Item 57(c) together in one debate.  He noted that under the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition contained more than 1,250 signatures, it could be debated by the Full Council and such a request had been made in respect of the petition concerning the Bright Start Nursery.

 

49.2               The Mayor then informed the meeting that the Leader of the Council wished to make a statement as she believed the information may be pertinent to the forthcoming debate and consideration of the proposals for the Bright Start Nursery.

 

49.3               Councillor Mears stated that she had listened very carefully to the many questions on the issue from parents and staff at the nursery and had received a large number of representations asking for the nursery to be kept open.  She stated that there was a need to review whether it was feasible to maintain the nursery and continue to subsidise it, when it was the only nursery in the City which received such a subsidy.   However, no decision had yet been made and any suggestions on the future of the nursery would be given consideration.  In this respect she noted hat the Localism Bill contained provisions to enable measures such as the ‘Community Right to Challenge’ and the ‘Community Right to Buy’ and as such she wished to formally propose, for consultation and consideration, Bright Start as a community asset to a consortium of parents, staff or other interested local parties. She was aware that a substantial business-case had already been put forward by one parent and hoped that others may come forward and engage constructively with the Council about this opportunity of taking Bright Start forward.

 

49.4               The Leader therefore stated that it was intended to extend the consultation period, to enable detailed proposals to be worked up and as part of this; a further consultation document would be issued in the New Year which would lay out the financial and legal implications for anyone wishing to establish a community nursery.

 

49.5               The Mayor thanked the Leader for her comments and invited Ms. Statham to come forward and present the combined paper and e-petition which sought to keep the nursery open.

 

49.6               Ms. Statham thanked the Mayor and outlined the strength of feeling in favour of keeping the nursery open and finding ways to improve its viability.  She stated that the combined number of signatures amounted to total of 5,125 and read out the prayer of the petition:

 

               “We the undersigned, petition Brighton & Hove City Council that Bright Start Nursery is both viable and sustainable.  Agenda Item 34 of the Children & Young People Cabinet Member Meeting (11 October 2010) does not adequately evaluate the alternatives to closure and the impact to the wider community.

 

               Bright Start Nursery is one of the few city-centre nurseries and an essential resource to the community and should NOT be considered for closure.”

 

49.7               The Mayor thanked Ms. Statham for attending the meeting and presenting the petition and called on Councillor Deane to move the Green Group’s notice of motion.

 

49.8               Councillor Deane moved the Green Group’s notice of motion which called on the council to recognise the value of the nursery as an asset and called on the Cabinet to reconsider the proposal to close it and look instead at ways of enhancing the provision offered to parents and children.  She also stated that she was happy to accept the Labour Group amendment as circulated in the addendum papers.

 

49.9                The Mayor then congratulated Councillor Deane on her maiden speech.

 

49.10          Councillor West formally seconded the motion and stated that he believed the decision to propose closure had been taken in haste without fully consulting the staff or users of the nursery.  He believed that there were options which could enable it to be kept open and utilised more effectively.

 

49.11          Councillor Brown thanked Ms. Statham for presenting the petition and stated that she had made a careful note of all the points expressed in the public questions, which would be included in the consultation process.  She believed the Leader of the Council had given a clear commitment in her statement and that a clear way forward had been outlined and therefore, as the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, did not feel it was appropriate to take part in the current debate.

 

49.12          Councillor Hawkes noted the comments and stated that she wished to move an amendment to the petition report’s recommendation and add a further recommendation at 2.2 to read,

 

               “That in recognition of the widespread opposition to the proposed closure of Bright Start Nursery as demonstrated by the petition, the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People undertakes to carry out the following measures before proceeding any further with its proposals for closure:

              

·         To properly explore all options for improving the occupancy rate and thus further reducing the council subsidy to the nursery including; effective marketing, reviewing session fees, promoting the nursery to other large employers such as the police, NHS and American Express;

 

·          To review the business model to achieve greater efficiency while building on the nursery’s unique city centre location; and

 

·         To consult all Brighton & Hove City Council employees as to the future of the nursery on the basis that access to the nursery is part of the ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ section of their contracted terms and conditions.”

 

49.13          Councillor Mitchell formally seconded the amendment.

 

49.14          Councillor West stated that he believed there had been a failure to consult properly and as such he wished to move an amendment to the petition report’s recommendation to add a further recommendation to read:

 

               “That the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People be requested to give consideration to:

 

a)     the high regard with which Bright Start Nursery is held, and the important service it continues to provide, is fully acknowledged,

 

b)     the consultation on closure of Bright Start beng terminated and the scheduled decision on closure is abandoned,

 

c)     a working group is formed, and includes the CYP Cabinet Member, council officers, staff, parents and Ward Members,

 

d)     that the well argued case put forward by parents for making Bright Start viable, and other alternatives to closure, including retention of some subsidy, are seriously and fully explored.”

 

49.15          Councillor Fryer formally seconded the amendment and stated that there was a need to retain the nursery and to retain a skilled workforce, which the provision of the nursery contributed to.  She believed that the establishment of a working group as proposed by the amendment would enable a solution to be found.

 

49.16          Councillor Hawkes then introduced and moved the Labour Group’s amendment to the Green Group’s notice of motion, which sought to strengthen the motion and called for a report to the Children & Young People’s Cabinet Member Meeting on the viability of keeping the nursery open.  She suggested that if the nursery was given greater publicity it was likely to attract more people and hoped that the need to work together to keep it open would be recognised.

 

49.17          Councillor Mitchell formally seconded the amendment and stated that she believed the strength of feeling on the issue was self-evident.  There was a clear need to have proper discussions and further consultation on how to keep the nursery operational.

 

49.18          Councillor Elgood stated that the Liberal Democrat Group fully supported the parents and staff at the nursery and believed that there was a need to resolve the situation in a positive manner.

 

49.19          Following the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor asked if Councillors Brown and Deane wished to respond.

 

49.20          Councillor Brown declined having noted the comments.

 

49.21          Councillor Deane stated that she believed there were sound proposals on how to take the matter forward and hoped that the proposed closure would be stopped and the nursery’s future secured.

 

49.22          The Mayor thanked Ms. Statham for attending the meeting and presenting the petition.  He noted that two amendments to the petition report had been moved and put each one to the vote; both of which were carried.  He then put the recommendations as amended to the vote, which was carried.

 

49.23          RESOLVED:

 

 

(1)         That the petition be referred to the Children & Young People Cabinet Member Meeting for consideration;

 

(2)         That in recognition of the widespread opposition to the proposed closure of Bright Start Nursery as demonstrated by the petition, the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People undertakes to carry out the following measures before proceeding any further with its proposals for closure:

 

·         To properly explore all options for improving the occupancy rate and thus further reducing the council subsidy to the nursery including; effective marketing, reviewing session fees, promoting the nursery to other large employers such as the police, NHS and American Express;

 

·          To review the business model to achieve greater efficiency while building on the nursery’s unique city centre location; and

 

·         To consult all Brighton & Hove City Council employees as to the future of the nursery on the basis that access to the nursery is part of the ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ section of their contracted terms and conditions.

 

(3)         That the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People be requested to give consideration to:

 

·         the high regard with which Bright Start Nursery is held, and the important service it continues to provide, is fully acknowledged,

 

·         the consultation on closure of Bright Start being terminated and the scheduled decision on closure is abandoned,

 

·         a working group is formed, and includes the CYP Cabinet Member, council officers, staff, parents and Ward Members,

 

·         that the well argued case put forward by parents for making Bright Start viable, and other alternatives to closure, including retention of some subsidy, are seriously and fully explored.

 

 

               Refreshment Break

 

49.24          Following the debate on items 49(a) and 57(c), the Mayor then adjourned the meeting for a refreshment break at 6.30pm.

 

49.25          The Mayor reconvened the meeting at 7.05pm.

 

 

(b)          Eco-Friendly Lights for St Ann’s Well Gardens Petition

 

49.26          The Mayor noted that under the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition contained more than 1,250 signatures it could be debated by the Full Council and such a request had been made in respect of the petition concerning eco-friendly lights in St Ann’s Well Gardens.

 

49.27          The Mayor invited Councillor Davis to present her petition.

 

49.28          Councillor Davis stated that a total of 1,476 people had signed either the paper or e-petition version which read as follows:

 

               “We the undersigned petition the council to provide financial support and help to install wildlife-friendly lighting along the main paths and entrance of St Ann's Well Gardens similar to that of Hove Park. This will make the park safer at night for everyone who uses it.

.

               St Ann's Well Gardens is a very well used local park, many events are held there, the cafe is always busy and it is also used as a cut through by people walking to work, home and school. There is need for the paths to be safer and better lit, and for that lighting to be wild life friendly.”

 

49.29          Councillor Davis stated that local residents felt very strongly about the need for lighting to improve the safety of the area and enable people to make use of the only open space in the vicinity.  The request for eco-friendly lights was based on the desire to preserve the balance of remarkable wildlife that existed in the park.  The petition was supported by both the Local Action Team and the local police.  She therefore hoped that the Cabinet Member would give an assurance that the funding set aside as part of the Section 106 Agreement would be used to provide the lights requested.

 

49.30          Councillor Theobald noted the request and referred to a letter from a Dr. Snell which he believed had been copied to all councillors and which he felt outlined a case for using the available funding to improve the park itself rather than provide lighting.  He suggested that in having regard to the current economic climate and the fact that the council had put a lot of investment into its green spaces, the use of the funding needed careful consideration.  He therefore questioned whether there was a need for such lighting.

 

49.31          Councillor Davis suggested that the Section 106 Agreement had been made on the basis of providing eco-friendly lighting and therefore queried whether it would be implemented.

 

49.32          Councillor Theobald stated that he was not sure if it would prove to be the best use of the funding and that a choice would have to be made.

 

49.33          Councillor Davis stated that she wished to move an amendment to the recommendation of the report to include an additional recommendation as follows:

 

               “That the Cabinet Member be requested to ensure that the £10,000 already allocated to St Ann’s Well Gardens from the S106 funding attached to the Southdown House, Somerhill Avenue development will be spent on these eco-friendly lights similar to those in Hove Park).  This would ensure safe night time use of the Garden’s main entrance and main paths by local residents and parents of the nearby schools.”

 

49.34          Councillor Mitchell formally seconded the amendment and stated that she believed it was clear that the Section 106 Agreement had been made on the premise that the funding would be used to provide eco-friendly lighting in St Ann’s Well Gardens.

 

49.35          Councillor Fallon-Khan stated that he understood the petition’s objective but felt that there was a need to consider the best use of the available funding to improve the area and totake into account the importance of biodiversity issues for the area.

 

49.36          Councillor Phillips noted that there was a difference of opinion and whilst she recognised the need to improve the safety of the area, she was unsure as to the quality and sustainability of the lighting that was being sought.

 

49.37          Councillor Theobald stated that he felt there was need to give full consideration to the best use of the funding and therefore suggested that the petition be noted and the matter looked into further with a view to utilising the funding to improve the area for the benefit of all users.

 

49.38          The Mayor noted that an amendment to the report’s recommendation had been moved by Councillor Davis on behalf of the Labour Group and put it to the vote which was carried.

 

49.39          The Mayor then put the substantive recommendations as amended to the vote which was carried.

 

49.40          RESOLVED:

 

(1)         That the petition be referred to the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting for consideration; and

 

(2)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment be requested to ensure that the £10,000 already allocated to St Ann’s Well Gardens from the S106 funding attached to the Southdown House, Somerhill Avenue development will be spent on these eco-friendly lights similar to those in Hove Park).  This would ensure safe night time use of the Garden’s main entrance and main paths by local residents and parents of the nearby schools.