Agenda item - Written questions from members of the public.

A list of public questions received by the due date of the 17^th March 2011 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum at the meeting.

82.1         The Mayor reported that 8 written questions had been received from members of the public and invited Mr. Jenner to come forward and address the council.

 

82.2         Mr Jenner asked the following question; “With the wonderful development and creation of the new facilities at the Sussex County Cricket Ground - What initiatives and leads have the Council taken in developing provision for the local children and young people with the Cricket club?”

 

82.3         Councillor Smith Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation & Tourism replied; “Thank you Mr Jenner for your question.  I am very supportive of the County Cricket Club and all the excellent work the Club undertakes to develop cricket across the county.

 

The council’s Leisure and Tourism Unit works with the County Cricket Club on various projects and programmes.  The Sports Development Team are part of the Cricket Development Group for Brighton & Hove which oversees the Strategy for the Development of Youth Cricket.

 

The council supports the Sussex Cricket Board on a range of initiatives for young people in cricket including the Chance to Shine Project, which is a five year project linking local primary and junior schools to community cricket clubs across the city.  The project will see school cricket sessions supported by local clubs, creating pathways for participation by young people.  The council’s Sports Development Team are also supporting Sussex Cricket Board to deliver the Street 20 Cricket project that is engaging young people in secondary schools and youth centres across the city.

 

In addition, the authority is also supporting the development of the club and its activities through, for example, the Museums Service assisting the establishment of the cricket museum; Tourism providing support for Venue Sales; and the Events Team supporting major events such as the Elton John concert.

 

To sum it up current action for the strategy for the development of youth cricket: to deliver a city?wide five year Chance to Shine Project: develop links with local schools and cricket clubs to establish three more youth sessions in clubs in the city during the next three years, to encourage the setting up of girls cricket sessions in two more clubs and to create coaching networks within the schools concerned in order to establish ongoing sustainability arrangements with each school. 

 

I think we’re doing very well as a city as far as we’re supporting Sussex Cricket Club and more importantly the youngsters of this city to improve their cricket and any other sporting facility.”

 

82.4         Mr Jenner asked the following supplementary question; “Thank you Councillor Smith for your extensive answer of all the things that are taking place.  I was just slightly concerned, I noted in the new budget that the funding for playing for success (£160,000), half of which used to go to the Cricket Club, has actually ended and that the excellent opportunity has been removed and I wondered what plans there were to replace that service.”

 

82.5         Councillor Smith replied; “We have it in the budget and if you look closely through it how much extra will be put in for sporting facilities and for coaching and everything in the city it’s there.  We’ve increased the amount, doubled the amount for going into small clubs for development, for coaches and everything else and we have increased a lot of our sporting facilities in the city.”

 

82.6         The Mayor thanked Mr Jenner for his questions.  The Mayor noted that Mr Cooke was unable to attend the meeting and invited Mr French to come forward and address the council on his behalf.

 

82.7         Mr French asked the following question; “Can the Council confirm what the long term plans are for the Old Market building on Circus Street?  The building is literally falling apart due to lack of use, but with adequate resources it could be converted into a valuable community asset for the Tarner neighbourhood.”

 

82.8         Councillor Fallon-Khan Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Employment & Major Projects replied; “Because the Circus Street scheme has always been expected to deliver significant community benefits and high environmental standards, its financial viability was badly hit by the downturn in the development market.  The council continues to work with our development partners, the Cathedral Group and the University of Brighton, on preparing a scheme for the site that is financially viable and deliverable but does not water down the regeneration benefits to the local community.  We will consult with residents on any revised plans that emerge. 

 

The council recognises the potential for the building as a community asset, and for that reason obtained temporary planning permission in 2010 for cultural and community uses.  However, for such a use to safely happen, considerable investment would need to be made, which is not economically viable for a building that will be redeveloped soon.  Cathedral have explored interim community uses in the past as part of a place-making exercise as a precursor to the long term regeneration of that area.  They have done this to very good effect at another scheme in Deptford High Street and would be looking to do the same here once a deliverable long term scheme is agreed.  The 2010 planning permission keeps this option open.

 

In the meantime, we are working with the Brighton Festival, who used the building in 2009 and who are looking at using it again this year.  The festival has the experience and resources to properly steward events at the building and address health and safety concerns.  Money has been invested in securing the building and preventing trespassing onto the roof.”

 

82.9         Mr French asked the following supplementary question; “I am noticing a trend in a lot of the Tory Administration’s regeneration plans in that not much seems to happen.  Can I ask the question then and can you just clarify that no progress has been made and there do not appear to be any firm plans?”

 

82.10    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied; “We as a city council, are working in partnership with the university and developers.  We’ve been doing that on a number of the projects in the city.  When there’s a downturn in the economy you will find if you wouldn’t want to tax businesses as much as you did that businesses are suffering.  The partnership remains with the university and the Cathedral Group and we are looking for every possible way that we can to get a fantastically sustainable development where there’ll be students, where there’ll be a library and where there’ll be income coming into the city, so perhaps, Mr French, next time through you, Mr Mayor, we’ll be able to talk in a little bit more detail when we’ve got a little bit more time about all the successful projects that we’re putting through in the city at the moment.”

 

82.11    The Mayor thanked Mr French for his questions and invited Ms Marks to come forward and address the council.

 

82.12    Ms Marks asked the following question; “With changes to benefits many disabled people are going to be looking for work for the first time in Brighton.  Only one in three visually impaired adults are currently in work.  What is Brighton and Hove Council planning on doing to ensure that there is support available for this group to help them into work and off benefits in line with the objectives set out in the corporate plan?”

 

82.13    Councillor Simson Cabinet Member for Community Affairs, Inclusion & Internal Relations replied; “Thank you Diane for coming along today and for your question.  You mention in your written question about incapacity benefits that will be migrated to employment and support allowance over the next couple of years.  I do know, I am aware that some disabled people, not only blind and partially sighted, are concerned that the new assessment for employment and support allowance which is to be introduced in April will mean that they may not be entitled to it and will be placed on jobseeker’s allowance.  In any event the Department for Work and Pensions will provide specialist support to find work.

 

As far as the council is concerned, the council continues to work closely with partners from Jobcentre Plus and other providers who support people into work and to remain in work.  There are a range of initiatives across the city including our own efforts to recruit and retain more disabled workers within the council. 

 

There are lots of ways the council’s own supported employment team can help by talking about options, carrying out a work-focused assessment, agreeing a job preparation action plan, updating a CV, providing advice on suitable work opportunities, writing letters of support to employers, completing application forms, providing mock interviews and support at any interviews.  They are based at the Knoll Business Centre in Portslade and can be easily contacted by ‘phone or via the council’s website for those who have access to the internet.  Once somebody is employed we can continue to help both employee and employer with the induction and training process, information on job adjustments, job coaching, ongoing support and improving skills.  Our support continues for as long as the employee or employer wants it and needs it. 

 

Jobcentre Plus also help by introducing people to pathways to work, a free service providing support to individuals on health related benefits to get back into employment by tackling barriers, providing training and raising confidence and self esteem.

 

A new service is also available via Jobcentre Plus which is called ‘work choice’ which replaces work step, work prep and job introduction schemes.  This is designed to help disabled people whose needs cannot be met through other work programmes, maybe because they need more specialised support to find employment or keep a job once they have started work.  ‘Work choice’ will be tailored to meet their individual needs and will focus on helping them achieve their full potential and move towards being even more independent.

 

I hope this has given you some reassurance that the council is working to ensure that support is available for anyone with a disability to help them into work and for them to remain there.”

 

82.14    Ms Marks asked the following supplementary question; “As we are led to believe that the Government is slowly doing away with ‘Access to Work’ which allows us once we have a job to actually have the support within the job, that’s technology or support workers.  It’s great that you’re helping to get people into work but how are you going to help people keep that job?”

 

82.15    Councillor Simson replied; “I think I did really respond to that in my initial answer to the question because we don’t only recognise how important it is for people to get into work and to find a job but also to retain them in that work.  We at the council do make every effort to make sure that things are put in place to ensure that anybody who has a disability who works for us does have suitable arrangements made so they can retain that employment.”

 

82.16    The Mayor thanked Ms Marks for her questions and invited Ms Hill to come forward and address the council.

 

82.17    Ms Hill asked the following question; “What action is the Council planning to take to prevent drivers driving along the pavements in Elm Grove, a practice that is dangerous for pedestrians, particularly parents and children making their way to and from Elm Grove school?"

 

82.18    Councillor Theobald Cabinet Member for Environment replied; “Thank you very much Mr Mayor and good evening Miss Hill, nice to see you.  As you will know from the response that you have already received on this issue from the Parking Response Team, driving on the pavement is a police matter. As part of the safer routes to school scheme the council has already put in several physical measures to prevent this around key junctions. We have also put in preventative measures at the bottom end of Elm Grove to protect the pavement and green space there. In May of last year we consulted residents on a parking scheme which would have included regulated parking in Elm Grove. However, as you will be aware a large majority of residents voted against this and so we did not proceed. Any solution to prevent parking and the associated pavement driving would inevitably involve a degree of parking regulation and displacement of vehicles.”

 

82.19    Ms Hill asked the following supplementary question; “Does the council consider the rejection of the proposed controlled parking zone last year enough of a reason not to act on any parking related matter even if there are safety issues at stake.”

 

82.20    Councillor Theobald replied; “Well you might not be aware but the local councillors said at my Environment CMM that they were going to work with the local community and then come back with any suggestions that they may have, but you will be aware that there was an overwhelming vote not to go ahead with parking regulation.”

 

82.21    The Mayor thanked Ms Hill for her questions and invited Mr Barraclough to come forward and address the council.

 

82.22    Mr Barraclough asked the following question; “In Hanover and Elm Grove ward many private landlords have been erecting large conservatories to provide an extra room in Houses in Multiple Occupation. The reason they do this is to make the living room into another bedroom, and so fit more tenants – usually students – into the property, and they don't need planning permission to do this. This is blighting the area as it destroys the green spaces between houses. What measures will the council take to tackle this issue?”

 

82.23    Councillor Theobald Cabinet Member for Environment replied; “The Council’s Planning and Housing Teams are working on a revised approach to considering how we manage Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) and determine whether minor changes to buildings or conversion of family dwellings to small HMO’s would require Planning Permission.”

 

82.24    Mr Barraclough asked the following supplementary question; “Would Councillor Theobald not agree with me that Hanover and Elm Grove Ward should primarily be an area for family homes and not bed sits and the ward should be made a conservation area to protect its unique character?”

 

82.25    Councillor Theobald replied; “It is certainly a unique area I think the point is as things stand at the moment one can make that change and that’s why Officers are working on an article for direction that would need to be consultation and that would need to be approved to try and prevent that change.”

 

82.26    The Mayor thanked Mr Barraclough for his questions and invited Mr Walter to come forward and address the council.

 

82.27    Mr Walter asked the following question; “Does the Council think it’s fair that people using the 23 and 25 bus pay only £2.50 but people on every other Brighton & Hove bus pay £3.70 for a day ticket, and if not, what is the Council going to do to ensure that some areas of the city don’t end up subsidising other areas so that Brighton & Hove Buses can afford to price-match The Big Lemon?”

 

82.28    Councillor Theobald Cabinet Member for Environment replied; “As a council we feel that there should be fair competition among local bus operators.  However, the council has no control over bus fares, which is a commercial issue for operators.  We are not the investigating body on competition issues as that duty lies with the Office of Fair Trading who are currently investigating a complaint from the Big Lemon Bus Company.”

 

82.29    Mr Walter asked the following supplementary question; “Wouldn’t including the Big Lemon and other operators in the quality bus partnership send a clear message to Brighton & Hove Buses that targeting smaller operators will not be tolerated?”

 

82.30    Councillor Theobald replied; “As I said earlier, we want fair competition and we certainly don’t want to see small operators being targeted.”

 

82.31    The Mayor thanked Mr Walter for his questions and invited Mr Lunnon to come forward and address the council.

 

82.32    Mr Lunnon asked the following question; “Currently if a family wishes to travel by bus, then every child will have to pay half the price of an Adult ticket, so it is actually financially beneficial to get a family into town by car. However if a child has the bus-id card, available freely from the bus company, they can travel for 20p when with an Adult, making it far cheaper. I ask the cabinet member for the environment to lobby Brighton and Hove Bus Company to remove the need for the bus ID card, to allow all children, when with adults to travel for 20p."

 

82.33    Councillor Theobald Cabinet Member for Environment replied; “As I said in answer to the previous question the city council has no control over bus fares, that’s a commercial issue for bus operators. The bus ID scheme is a commercial marketing initiative by Brighton & Hove Buses. I understand that some 85% of older teenagers resident in the city take advantage of this scheme. The city council commends any initiative which offers attractive cheap fares for young people but any decisions to remove the requirement for the bus ID card would be a commercial marketing decision by the bus operator.”

 

82.34    Mr Lunnon asked the following supplementary question; “My supplementary question is simply I was merely asking you to lobby the bus company whether you could do this. I understand it is outside of your jurisdiction to actually enforce it but would you lobby the bus company on behalf of the council to see whether they would remove it to encourage family bus travel in this time of economic downturn when fuel prices are very high and obviously we want to move congestion from the streets of Brighton & Hove?”

 

82.35    Councillor Theobald replied; “Our officers do have meetings with various bus companies and certainly I will ask them to talk to the bus company. Thank you.”

 

82.36    The Mayor thanked Mr Lunnon for his questions and invited Ms O’Connor to come forward and address the council.

 

82.37    Ms O’Connor asked the following question; “Councillors last time voted £200,000 to the Connexions service specifically in order to ensure there are as many LDD and NEET delivery posts as possible. We understand that officers are planning to use the money for 1) Voluntary Sector transition i.e. contracts that must have been predicted within their present budget analysis 2) Other NON Connexions posts.

 

            Can we be assured that the money will now be used so that all BHCC Connexions staff who apply for LDD or Employability delivery posts are offered a job?”

 

82.38    Councillor Brown Cabinet Member for Children & Young People replied; “The additional £200,000 is to be used to keep the voluntary sector connexions provision in place until we know the outcome of the youth review. This includes the provision of 4.5 personal advisors and the use of access point premises at the young peoples centre and the youth advice centre. Funding CVS contracts will ensure that these local projects are sustained at least until the future commissioning arrangements with the community and voluntary sectors are agreed. You must remember that the additional £200,000 is for one off funding for one year only. The most appropriate use of any one off funding is to ensure future sustainability. We have undertaken the consultation about the redesign connexions service and that has now been completed. Interviews are currently taking place for 12 full time equivalent posts; there are currently 13.44 full time equivalent applicants for these posts plus 1.6 currently on maternity leave. In addition there is one personal advisor post in the 16 plus team and one teenage pregnancy prevention officer post ring-fenced in the redeployment pool for Connexions staff.”

 

82.39    Ms O’Connor asked the following supplementary question; “According to your own report that is the CYPT Performance Board Report of 22 July 2010, the Connexions IAG Team gave significantly better value for money. Why is it then that these same staff do not have first priority on the jobs available in the new service?”

 

82.40    Councillor Brown replied; “Well I am sorry Miss O’Connor that you do not value the role of the community and voluntary sector as we do. The money will go to Sussex central YMCA and impact initiatives to continue to provide services at the Young People Centre and the Youth Advice Centre. By the Autumn we should know the outcome of our review of youth services which we will use along with any new guidance from government on the all age career service to inform our future commissioning of support for young people in the city.”

 

82.41    The Mayor thanked Ms O’Connor for her questions and noted that this concluded the public questions.