Agenda item - Written questions from Councillors.

List of Members Questions (copy attached).

20.1       The Mayor reminded the council that councillor’s questions and the replies from the appropriate councillor were now taken as read by reference to the list included in the addendum, which had been circulated as detailed below.

 

20.2       The Mayor then invited the Member responsible fro the written question to ask one relevant supplementary question and for that to be answered accordingly, along with any additional supplementary question from another Member as detailed below.

 

20.3       (a) Councillor Fryer asked:

 

           “There have been recent reports from many constituents about employees and sub-contractors of the council carrying out building works or clearing rubbish, for example from the beach, throwing things which could easily be recycled.

 

          Can Councillor Theobald tell us what training and facilities currently exist to raise the council's employees and sub-contractors awareness of possibilities for recycling?”

 

20.4    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

          “Contracts & tendering

 

          Within the tender documents for all contracts the council encourages contractors to reduce all unnecessary waste, re-use and to recycle wherever possible. 

 

          For example, our new Gully & Soakaway Contractor, Conway, empties the silt and water from gullies & soakaways and transfers the waste to a recycling plant.  This separates this waste into oils and fuels, sand, three grades of gravel, metal and clean silt.  Excess water is cleaned and used to clean aggregates.

 

          New facilities

 

          The council’s new in-house waste and recycling contract provides an excellent opportunity for the council to make significant improvements by:

-        mainstreaming recycling collections to all buildings across the council;

-        increasing the range and quantity of materials that can be recycled;

-        supporting staff in their efforts to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill from council offices.

-        Offering an improved recycling service to schools.

 

          Staff awareness and training

 

          The council supports a successful Environment Champions programme with 120 members of staff who voluntarily champion sustainability – including recycling – in their work environments. 

 

          A new e-learning tool is about to be launched, providing all members of staff with the opportunity for improving their knowledge in all areas of sustainability.  Waste recycling and reduction features strongly.

 

          A new sustainability course specifically designed for managers has also been devised, showing managers how they can set up systems and practices to help reduce and recycle waste.”

 

20.5       Councillor Fryer asked a supplementary question, “Many residents of Brighton and Hove are shocked at the amount of waste left on the beach every day, especially in the summer months.  It is not good for tourism which is very important to Brighton and Hove’s economy but would Brighton and Hove, therefore, be able to launch a zero waste campaign regarding those beaches along the lines of that which was done in Estonia which saw 50,000 people mobilising to clean their country on the same day?”

 

20.6    Councillor Theobald replied, “As you know I am always willing to hear any questions, particularly positive questions that are put that might help this situation, so could I just say to you that we will certainly consider it.”

 

20.7    (b) Councillor Fryer asked:

“Could the two members of the Arts Commission receiving a Special Responsibility Allowance undertake to give a regular report to the Council of extra duties incurred and carried out as a result of their special responsibilities together with a vision of how they see their role emerging?”

 

20.8       Councillors Older and Davis replied,

 

          “The Brighton and Hove Arts Commission is an independent Cultural Partnership which was established by the City Council.  The Special Responsibility Allowance made available to Councillors Older and Davis is in recognition of the time allocated by them to the Arts Commission in addition to other council duties.  This is to take part in Arts Commission meetings, working sub groups, to attend Arts Commission advocacy events and other meetings as requested by the Chairman.  For example; to date, particular responsibilities allocated by the Chairman include asking Councillor Older to lead on the new constitutional arrangements as they relate to the Arts Commission and Councillor Davis to lead on the input for the Arts Commission on the Local Development Framework. 

 

          The record of their duties, along with other Arts Commission members, is contained in the minutes and records of the Arts Commission itself which are published on the Arts Commission website.”

 

20.9       Councillor Fryer asked a supplementary question, “There is a great deal of evidence which highlights the value of the arts to all members of society, including improving health and wellbeing, education and a quality of life.  In this age of cuts to arts funding resulting in many artists who provide a the community struggling to survive, do Councillors Older and Davis agree that it would be better for the £2,000 currently being spent on a Special Responsibility Allowance for four meetings per year, to go directly to artists and art organisations?” 

 

20.10    Councillor Older replied “As it is an independent body you must be aware of why we take it so seriously along with the arts culture in this city. The Arts Commission is an independent body that works independently from the council.  That was the whole point of it with a representation from the Members of the Council.  The Commission reports to the Cabinet Member of Culture, Recreation & Tourism and Cabinet and there is an additional accountability through scrutiny for Culture, Tourism & Enterprise.  The Commission reports to the council as a whole which you have asked them to do.  We do not believe it is necessary to give the last accountability above and if all the representatives that sit on the outside bodies start to report to Council, we would not have time for any other business.  The Special Responsibility reducing in value last year should demonstrate our commitment to the arts.  We also made the Tourism & Recreation Sub-Committee a main committee last year.  As you can see from our written answer, which shows two things we both had an input into and I am sure there will be other things in the future.  I presume Councillor Fryer is aware that I do not actually get the responsibility allowance as I already receive one from the Children & Young People’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee.”

 

20.11  Councillor Davis replied, “I wasn’t part of the Administration or involved in any way in the process of deciding Special Allowances for any councillors but I do believe it is important that the arts are recognised as an integral part of the city’s wider culture and of its economy.  It is right that the current Administration recognises this too by giving the Arts Commission its special status. 

 

          I mean for the interest of Members I advocate and champion the arts and the Arts Commission in many places and in many ways.  I sit on the Brighton & Hove Business Forum, the Brighton & Hove Philharmonic Orchestra.  I am on the Culture, Tourism & Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  I am Opposition Spokesperson for Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet.  I am also on the Board of the Brighton Carnival.  I am a paid up Friend of the Brighton Festival.  I am responsible for the arts at the local school of which I am Governor.  I am a founding member of the Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens which has a number of arts events on throughout the year.  I was also a Board Member of Lighthouse which promotes digital arts in the city.  I spent four years in the House of Commons working for three Shadow Arts Ministers and over twenty years in television and the creative industries.

 

          I can assure Councillor Fryer that that kind of commitment and expertise working in the open market is worth a great deal.”

 

20.12  (c) Councillor Morgan asked:

         
“Can Councillor Theobald, Brown or Mears confirm that this authority has submitted a response to the proposals in the Government’s Youth Crime Action Plan which came out in July for consultation and which is backed by significant new Government funding?  Responses from local authorities and other interested parties were requested by 17 October, so if a response has been submitted, can details be given of what consultation was undertaken via the Community safety Forum, CYPT or other bodies in the city please?”

 

20.13   Councillor Mrs. Brown replied,

 

          “The Youth Crime Action Plan was received from the Government during the Summer in late July.  The council was not invited to respond to any formal consultation process although within the body of the Plan there were questions posed about the long term strategies proposed.

 

          The Plan sets out a ‘Triple Track’ approach to reduce youth crime.  Each Local Authority Area being required to put in place a comprehensive package of enforcement and punishment; non-negotiable support and challenge; and better and earlier prevention.

 

          Some of the specific proposals in the Plan are already being delivered in Brighton & Hove as a result of our successful partnership working and the fact that both the CDRP and CYPT have already been awarded trailblazer or pathfinder status for various strands of the Plan.  Examples of this are; the Challenge and Support grant which has been pooled by the CDRP and CYPT to enable a City wide growth in youth crime prevention teams as part of the Targeted Youth Support Strategy; and the Family Pathfinder which will work closely with the Family Intervention Project to deliver joined up services to our most needy and problematic families.

 

          The Government have recently announced that they will make up to £700,000, over two years, available to the City to support the implementation of the Youth Crime Action Plan and we have been consulting across our Partnerships on our proposals which we will put to officials from the Youth Task Force in October. Discussions have taken place at –

 

·         The Youth Justice Strategy Group

·         The Crime and Reduction Partnership

·         The Targeted Youth Support Development Group

·         And at the Community Safety Forum on 6 October.”

 

20.14  Councillor Morgan asked a supplementary question, “Does Councillor Mrs Brown think that in-house consultation on the Government’s Youth Crime Action Plan has been sufficient and given her Party’s supposed concerns over youth crime and anti-social behaviour, should not this important issue have come before a Council meeting or appeared in City News or the Council’s website so that the public could have their say?”

 

20.15  Councillor Mrs. Brown replied, “It was not statutory consultation, the Government just said they would welcome responses to some questions and, in fact, we have done much more than that.  We already work very closely with the police and the Youth Offending Team.  We have consulted widely about this Action Plan as it said in the reply and we have concentrated on the initiatives that we would like to work on initially, as the lead-in time is quite short this report wasn’t even put out until the end of July.  Our officers are meeting with representatives from the DCFS tomorrow to discuss these initiatives face to face and negotiate with them the actions that we will be taking forward.  We intend to build on our present good practice and some of our partners will also be present at that meeting.  It is the actions and the outcomes that are important Councillor Morgan not the answers to a few written questions.”

 

20.16  Councillor Alford asked a supplementary question “Would the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People be able to give us a little bit of information about any initiatives that she is supporting with regard to the Youth Crime Action Plan?”

 

20.17  Councillor Mrs. Brown replied “There are a number of things that we want to do but just to mention a few: we want to increase the night time detached Youth Work Team that works alongside the police and the anti-social behaviour workers in areas where the young people particularly congregate.  These youth workers will also undertake health education work, distributing information and talk about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

 

          We will also provide more positive activities for young people on Friday and Saturday evenings.  We have already consulted widely with young people and they are keen to have more arts, music and IT activities. 

 

          We would also like to extend our family intervention project which delivers joined?up services to our most needy and problematic families and particularly to focus on these teenage years. 

 

          All these projects will complement the work we are already doing with young people and enhance our preventative strategies.”

 

20.18  (d) Councillor Davis asked,

 

          “The Engineerium is a beautifully restored working Victorian pumping station and museum of mechanical antiquities which has been closed to the public for over two years.  Could the Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation & tourism tell us how he is facilitating the re-opening of this important building so residents and visitors can once again enjoy this important part of our city’s heritage.”

 

20.19  Councillor Smith replied,

 

          “The Engineerium in Hove is in private ownership and is currently closed.  The information on their website states that ‘a period of intense planning’ has begun.  It continues to state that it will reopen in the future, however no further information is available.  I have written to the owners directly to ascertain a timetable for the refurbishment works together with a projected reopening date for this valuable asset to the city.  As soon as I receive a response I will inform Councillors.”

 

20.20  Councillor Davis asked a supplementary question, “I hope we will receive updates from you and I wondered if you would commit to being more proactive and call a meeting with the owner of the Engineerium to make sure that it doesn’t stay closed for several more years?”

 

20.21  Councillor Smith replied, “I have already written to Mike Holland asking to have a personal meeting with him so that we can discuss it.  I am like you, I think it should be open.  It’s one of our treasures and the sooner we get it open again and all the tourism attraction it holds, I am all for it, so I will report back after I have had a meeting with Mike Holland.”

 

20.22  (e) Councillor Mitchell asked,

 

          “In order to encourage participation in community activities such as the popular Baby Boogie sessions at the Jubilee Library, will Cllr Smith take whatever steps are necessary to remove the parking charge for babies buggies and ensure that the sessions are properly supported and promoted?”

 

20.23Councillor Smith replied,

 

“A small charge of £1 per buggy was introduced on 1 Septemberto go towards maintaining the regular drop-in Baby Boogie sessions that are run in 11 of our libraries across the city.  For five years preceding this, we have been fortunate in attracting external funding for the Pre-School Music and Rhyme project of which Baby Boogie is an integral part, but we do now need to make some direct income to maintain this service.  

 

          Users of the service have suggested to us in the past that we should consider levying a charge to help keep the service going if grant funding was no longer available, and unfortunately we are now at the stage where this has become necessary. 

 

          The reason for charging £1 per buggy rather than per child was to keep the sessions as affordable as possible for families with more than one child under five.   The charge was approved by the Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee last year, and it was agreed that this and other charges would be reviewed this year.  We will take this opportunity to reconsider the methodology of charging to see if some other arrangement would be more appropriate.”

 

20.24    Councillor Mitchell asked a supplementary question “Would Councillor Smith agree that it would be more open and transparent to charge for the Baby Boogie sessions themselves if that is what he wants to do, rather than apply this buggy parking charge that parents are seeing as very underhand?”

 

20.25    Councillor Smith replied “I agree with you entirely.  When it comes to the budget in December I am sure we will be discussing other ways and means and if we have got to raise money we will do it then.”

 

20.26    Councillor Hawkes asked a supplementary question “Could Councillor Smith tell me why the very, very popular Dads’ Baby Boogie was cancelled?  It seems quite tragic that when we are working very hard, the work is excellent but to encourage fathers as well as mothers and to just cut that one out is quite disgraceful.  We have put out these leaflets and then cut something that is so important.”

 

20.27  Councillor Smith replied “We have just received some money for this and it will be starting again in November.”

 

20.28(f) Councillor Mitchell asked,

 

          “If Councillor Theobald agrees with me that Brighton and Hove’s heritage seafront railings make an important contribution to the city’s visual identity, will he authorise the removal of the ivy that is completely covering Kemp Town’s promenade railings and is turning them into a hedge?”

         

20.29  Councillor Theobald replied,

 

          “Thank you, Councillor Mitchell for the question on the seafront railings along the Kemp Town promenade.  I would agree that the ivy covering the railings does detract from the heritage of the area and a programme of grounds maintenance works will be undertaken to cut back the ivy on the actual railings.

 

          A review will also be undertaken to consider the ongoing management of the issue due to steep slopes and the extensive growth that has taken place over many years.”

 

20.30  Councillor Mitchell asked a supplementary question, “I would just like to ask Councillor Theobald why it has taken a question put by myself in order to get some management on removing this large amount of ivy from the Kemp Town railings?”

 

20.31  Councillor Theobald replied “I really do find it quite amusing in many ways that Councillor Mitchell constantly asks these questions after twenty years or twenty-five years of running this council and asks me why this isn’t happening and why that hasn’t been happening and I keep saying to you Councillor Mitchell, well, what on earth have you been doing for the last twenty years?  All I can say is it must grow very quickly, I have an expert sitting in front of me who tells me that ivy does not grow quickly and so therefore Councillor Mitchell l I think this should have been dealt with earlier.  The fact of the matter is, as I have said to you, that we are dealing with this: it is going to be dealt with in the same way as we dealt with the Bandstand, the Madeira Lift and so many other initiatives in what, just over a year we have achieved all these things, so Councillor Mitchell just watch this space.”

 

20.32  Councillor Duncan asked a supplementary question “Given Fat Boy Slim’s generous offer to contribute a proportion of revenues from future events on Kemp Town beach to a green proposed Madeira Drive Improvement Fund to pay for works just like this, can Councillor Theobald confirm what arrangements he has put in place to set up such a fund or to take Fat Boy Slim up on his offer?”

 

20.33  Councillor Theobald replied “I think we need to talk about this.  I have explained this before that we can’t ring-fence monies for particular issues.  We use the monies to go across community events, and we have already heard, all of us in various wards in this city take advantage, our communities do, of monies which are spread around.  If we are just going to target for one particular issue then those will lose out.  I don’t want that to happen and I don’t think my colleagues on the council would either.”

 

20.34  (g) Councillor Marsh asked,

 

          "If the Cabinet Member for Environment agrees that, during this time of international economic hardship, residents of Brighton and Hove should be given every opportunity to access and cheaply grow their own seasonal, fresh fruit and vegetables, can he tell me when the report requested by my Labour colleague over a year ago on the re-letting of abandoned allotment plots, a review of plot tenancy arrangements and opportunities for increasing the number of allotments will be produced?"

 

20.35  Councillor Theobald replied,

 

          “I agree and we have been working very hard with the Brighton and Hove Allotment Federation to improve the service.  Many of the improvements are in the day to day management of the service and we have identified allotment sites that were run down over the past 10 years or so that we can reopen.  For example, we are about to re-open 30 new allotments on Whitehawk Hill, which had previously been abandoned, and we have taken over the management of 8 new additional plots in Ovingdean.

 

          I think it is important that Members can assess this service and have the opportunity for making recommendations for further improvements.  For this reason I have asked that Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee take a look at the service and I hope you can be involved in that process.  I am surprised that you are not aware that I have asked Scrutiny to look into this.”

 

20.36  Councillor Marsh asked a supplementary question, “I am, of course, aware that you have requested this goes to Scrutiny but this falls under your remit, you have the responsibility and power to reopen these waiting lists which now have over 2,000 people on them, many of them my constituents.  When will you stop passing the buck on this issue, taking some direct action to reopen the waiting lists and take action against tenants of unattended allotments?”

 

20.37  Councillor Theobald replied, “I find that amazing, absolutely amazing.  One of the advantages of having Scrutiny Committees, and this was what was said time and again, was that one could use Scrutiny Committees to actually look at things, discuss them ad nauseam and then come forward with positive ideas.  

 

          Scrutiny to my mind shouldn’t just be purely responding to what the Cabinet are suggesting.  Scrutiny should be used, in my opinion and I would have thought most of our colleagues, to actually look at things and I thought that by suggesting that this issue be dealt with by Councillor Morgan’s Scrutiny Committee, he would have been very pleased because it would have given him and other colleagues, who I know have expertise with allotments (I can think of one looking straight in front of me), and they can use that expertise by coming forward with some good ideas.  If this council does not want me to put things to Scrutiny so that Scrutiny can come forward with some good ideas, that is what happens in other parts of the country, but you might like to know that waiting lists have reduced and the average time a person needs to wait for an allotment has been reduced, Councillor Marsh, from 18 months to 12 months, so that we have already moved and if you can work your maths out, we have already achieved that bit in just over 12 months.  All newly let allotments are being halved in size to create good size plots and we are increasing actions against allotment holders who do not cultivate their plots.  I take this seriously because, you know, I have allotments in my own Ward and I am aware of the satisfaction that this gives and it’s something that we all ought to encourage and I certainly wish to do that. 

 

I, along with Councillor Smart who looks at these things for me, have investigated and we have looked at a number of allotments in the city, because this is something that we take very seriously, but I do want the Scrutiny Committee to have a look at this and to come forward with some jolly good ideas.  I hope, Councillor Marsh, that you will take the advantage of feeding into this if you have an interest in this.”

 

20.38  Councillor Smart asked a supplementary question “Does Councillor Theobald agree with me that our allotments are an integral part of this city and its local communities and that they are one of the last        community spaces that crosses all boundaries of age, beliefs and ways of life that really bring people together and that they are safe in the hands of this Administration. ”

 

20.39  Councillor Theobald replied “Yes.”

 

20.40   (h) Councillor Kennedy asked,

 

          "It is almost twelve months since this council passed a motion regarding tackling the blight of single-use plastic bags in the city.  Can the administration's Sustainability Spokesperson advise me as to whether plastic bags have yet been eliminated from Brighton & Hove?"

         

20.41  Councillor Mrs Cobb replied,

 

          “Clearly in a city the size of Brighton & Hove, this is not something that is going to happen overnight – nor is it something we can do alone… but I can report substantial progress:

 

          1. We are phasing out plastic bags in our own retail operations, and have launched a "Bag for Life" made from recycled plastic bags, the bag which costs £1.49, featuring the simple message “Clean City, Clean Sea”.  We have already sold about 700, and are selling up to a hundred a week, through the Library and Pavilion shops, the Visitor Information Centre and many of our other libraries.

 

          2. We have also begun selling them into local shops, and this will increase as the result of a seminar for local retailers on packaging we are arranging with the support of professionals in the (eco-friendly) packaging industry.

 

          3. We have done extensive research into the city’s supermarkets practices – as they give out most of the free plastic bags - and most have responded to our challenge already, or begun to:  the Co-op, for example, is moving to 5p corn?starch bags; Marks & Spencer is charging for bags too as part of its “remind, reward and require” approach; Asda stopped handing out free plastic bags first in Brighton thanks to our campaign and we continue to support local initiatives by campaigners and independent shops to reduce plastic bag use.  All of this is clearly having a real impact.  Anecdotally we hear, and you can see for yourself – far fewer plastic bags are being used in Brighton than elsewhere – already.

 

          4. We have already substantially increased our environmental education focus in schools on plastic litter and the sea.  In June and July we sponsored a Cool Seas Roadshow jointly with the Marine Conservation Society for 10 primary schools reaching an amazing 2,700 children with messages about beach litter and introducing the marine environment to children in a hands-on, visual and dynamic way with a big focus on plastic bags and litter in the sea.

 

          We also commissioned a local artist and a local film-maker to work with five more primary schools in a week’s workshops using waste from the beach to make 3D stories about sea litter and plastic bags.  The resulting animation work will be shown in a film launch in November, with an exhibition in Jubilee Library early next year. 

 

          We even sponsored an Eco-Bags Panto at Benfield School in Portslade that highlighted the problems of rubbish, especially plastic bags that end up in the sea.”

 

20.42  Councillor Kennedy asked a supplementary question, “I thank the Deputy Leader for her comprehensive answer to my question and I applaud the progress made so far in seeking to tackle the blight of single use plastic bags in this city. 

 

I look forward to seeing this work continue and I would be grateful if the Deputy Leader could advise me as to when the supermarket summit which is referred to on this council’s website will be taking place and also what, if any, liaison work is being undertaken with community campaign groups such as ‘Plastic Bag Free Brighton’?”

 

20.43  Councillor Mrs Cobb replied, “Unfortunately, due to the economic climate we feel at the moment there are much more important things than looking at that particular event, although we may well hold it in the future but it has been postponed for the time being.”

 

20.44  Councillor Caulfield asked a supplementary question “Could Councillor Cobb tell me if she thinks in this economic climate the proposed 20p tax on each plastic bag by the Green Members of this Council would have actually encouraged retailers to provide alternative bags at the check-out or would have, in fact, been just an unfair tax on the lowest paid members of our community?”

 

20.45  Councillor Mrs. Cobb replied “No.  However, charging for bags does encourage shoppers to reuse and bring their own bags.  In the budget on 12 March 2008 the Government announced that it will bring forward legislation in the Climate Change Bill to enable it to require retailers to impose a minimum charge on single use carrier bags.  If sufficient progress is not made on a voluntary basis these powers will come into force in 2009.  The Government will consult meantime on the operation of the charge and how to ensure that the money raised goes to environmental charities.”

 

20.46  (i) Councillor Kennedy asked,

 

          “The introduction on 31 March 2008 of Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 allows local authorities outside London to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to motorists who park alongside dropped kerbs or more than 50cm from the kerb in a Special Enforcement Area.  Can the Cabinet Member for the Environment tell me if this council has any plans to apply these new powers in Brighton & Hove?”

 

20.47   Councillor Theobald replied,

 

          “Whilst Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 allows local authorities outside London to issue Penalty Charge Notices for double parking and parking on dropped kerbs there is a requirement to indicate the ban with traffic signs and road markings on every street.  Clearly this would be very expensive and time consuming for us to introduce citywide.

 

          Through correspondence with David Lepper MP, the Assistant Director of Sustainable Transport has lobbied the Department for Transport to remove the requirement to sign and line the ban.

 

          We recently received a response from the Minister of State for Transport advising that the Department is consulting local authorities on making a small change to the Regulations to clarify that these prohibitions can be enforced without traffic signs or road markings on every road.  The consultation ends on 21 October.”

 

20.48  Councillor Kennedy asked a supplementary question, “Those of us who represent the city centre wards know only too well the severe problems which are presented by double parking and I welcome Councillor Theobald’s response to my question regarding the new powers afforded to local authorities under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 which are designed to penalise drivers who persist with this selfish practice. 

 

          Could Councillor Theobald confirm whether or not this council will indeed adopt these powers if the Minister of State for Transport removes the requirement to sign and line and, if so, whether the additional revenue generated by the issue of Penalty Charge Notices can be ring-fenced for sustainable transport improvements which will benefit pedestrians and cyclists?”

 

20.49  Councillor Theobald replied, “I am all in favour of local councils having the opportunity to do this and I have indicated that but as far as implementing this, that will be a matter for consideration.”

 

20.50  (j) Councillor Hamilton asked,

 

          “The booking office at Hove Town Hall for events staged at The Brighton Centre and The Hove Centre is advertised as being open 26 hours a week.  In practice it hardly ever seems to be open.  The cafe at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, relaunched with much publicity a few months ago, is now permanently closed.  I have received complaints about both of these unsatisfactory situations.  What plans does the Conservative Administration have to provide the public with a proper service at these two locations?"

 

20.51  Councillor Smith replied,

 

          “Box Office:

          In recent months there have been staff shortages on a number of occasions caused by the long term sickness absence of key members of the Box Office team.  Given the high volume level of business through the main Brighton Centre Box Office it has been necessary on these occasions to concentrate our resources to best effect.  The venues currently have 87 concerts on sale (12 events are at Hove) plus 33 performances of Holiday on Ice, which together have a gross box office value of £3.9m.  The Brighton Centre also has on sale 90 sessions of public skating.  On those occasions when it is not possible to maintain a physical presence behind the box office counter in Hove Town Hall reception there is a red telephone adjacent to the counter for customers to contact the Brighton Centre Box Office direct.  This enables customers to still purchase tickets for events at either venue without payment of a booking fee.  There is always a staffed presence for on-the-day/night sales when there is an event on in the building.  It is also worth noting that there has been a major change in the way in which our customers choose to purchase tickets.  Ticketmaster now account for 73% of all box office sales (57% of which are online ticket purchasing) with Agents/Secondary Sales accounting for a further 8%.  Although still a valuable service, the venues’ front of house box offices only account for 19% of ticket sales.

 

          King Alfred Café:

          With regards to the King Alfred café, the tenant who operated the café for many years terminated their agreement in April 2008 as they felt it was no longer financially viable.

 

          Despite the redevelopment another operator was found on a trial basis but, unfortunately, after six months this operator has also found that it is not financially viable to run the café.  Considerable effort was made by both the operator and leisure centre staff to make a success of this arrangement.  However, such a lack of viability is not restricted to the King Alfred and has affected other Leisure Centres, for example, the café at the Prince Regent Swimming Complex was converted to a fitness gym many years ago.

 

          Vending machines are available at the King Alfred which provide a basic service of drinks and snacks.

 

          When there is greater certainty on the future of the King Alfred, there will be the opportunity to review both the provision of food and beverage together with the use of the café area.”

 

20.52  Councillor Hamilton asked a supplementary question, “I would just like to follow up on the King Alfred please.  At the time of setting this year’s budget we were told that there would be no cuts in services.  Do you accept that the withdrawal of a café facility at the King Alfred is a service cut?”

 

20.53  Councillor Smith replied “Not really.  If you cannot get anyone to run a business it doesn’t take place so really we have got the self-catering bit there and the kiosk on the King Alfred.  When the council decides what the long term use for the King Alfred is, we may be in a position to do something.”

 

20.54  (k) Councillor Oxley asked,

 

          “If the Cabinet Member for Finance will estimate the cost of  disaggregating Brighton and Hove City Council, into two separate  Councils and if she will state the figure?”

 

20.55  Councillor Young replied,

 

          “Thank you Councillor for a very interesting question.  As I am sure you will be aware the council has not undertaken any financial analysis associated with the splitting of the existing council.  However, I can give you the reorganisation costs associated with creating the unitary council in the first place, which at today’s prices would be about £15million.  These costs were recovered over approximately three years from the savings generated by bringing the councils together.  Creating two separate councils would not only lead to significant reorganisation costs but each council would cost more to run with duplication in the administration of services and a loss of economies of scale in the provision of most services.  Financial analysis undertaken prior to the last reorganisation also showed that a separate Brighton Unitary Council and Hove Unitary Council would be financially unviable.  Council taxpayers in both new councils would therefore be faced with higher council tax bills and poorer services.”

 

20.56  Councillor Oxley asked a supplementary question, “I am grateful to the Cabinet Member for Finance for indicating that any disaggregation of Brighton & Hove City Council in her estimate could be around £15m.  She alludes, at the end of her written response to me, that that would lead to higher council taxes and poorer services and I would be grateful if she could give us some further detail on that?”

 

20.57  Councillor Young replied, “The council is already facing a tightening financial position which the separate councils would also face.  In addition they would have to fully meet all the extra costs of reorganisation.  For example, if the reorganisation costs were £15m then council tax would need to increase £161 or 13.5% or extra savings of £15m would need to be made in the budget.  The extra costs associated with running two councils rather than one will add to the tax burden and the savings needed in services.  As a Hove resident this may be a nice idea but it is not a financial reality.”

 

20.58  Councillor Carden asked a supplementary question “I would like to ask how much it would cost to set up a third authority for Portslade because I firmly and honestly believe the people of Portslade would run for it tomorrow?”

 

20.59  Councillor Young replied “As it’s £15m for two, maybe half of that, so if your residents of Portslade are quite happy to pay that then perhaps you should look at it more.”

 

20.60  (l) Councillor Marsh asked,

 

          “Would the Cabinet member for Council confirm the pricing structure for hiring rooms/facilities in our Council owned leisure centres?”

 

20.61   Councillor Smith replied,

 

          “Thank you Councillor Marsh for your question on the pricing structure of facilities within the council leisure centres.

 

          Due to the large range of activities and facilities that are available within the leisure centres, guides are produced detailing the scale of charges.  I have arranged for officers to send you copies of this information for council owned leisure centres.”

 

20.62  Councillor Marsh asked a supplementary question, “First of all can I thank Councillor Smith for his reply to my original question and for this very useful guide that he sent me.  However, my question was actually about the rates for room hires within the leisure centres and not all the wonderful and great activities that are actually publicised in this guide, so not a lot of help there.

 

What I really want answered please is why it is that I have received complaints from my residents in Moulsecoomb and Bevendean regarding the lack of community rates for room hire?  I contacted leisure centres operated by DC Leisure on our behalf and found that none were prepared to offer community rates.  Can you confirm have you axed the community rates scheme or if it is still around why is no-one aware of its existence?”

 

20.63  Councillor Smith replied, “All communities have got different rates, like when you have your councillors’ surgery there may be only one of you there or two of you, and you get different rates for the sizes of the rooms.  I think that based on the different size and the occupancy of rooms in all our venues and that there, but obviously I will look into it for you and come up with a more concrete answer.”

 

20.64  Councillor Watkins asked a supplementary question “If Councillor Smith would ask the Scrutiny Committee that is responsible for his department to reinvigorate the scrutiny that we actually had on the charges of council owned properties, etc, I think three or four years ago and maybe this could be brought back to life again and we could check how best a one it actually was.  It was a very interesting one. 

 

We were promised that, in fact, our recommendations would be carried out.  I think we are still waiting for that to happen actually but it was a very useful exercise and I think it would help in looking at how we charge for different parts of the community and how we charge for commercial, so I think that if Councillor Smith was agreeable, that this, in fact, would be a way of progressing this.”

 

20.65  Councillor Smith replied “Thank you for the information Councillor Watkins, I will look into the matter and if necessary ask the Scrutiny Committee to review the situation.”

 

20.66  (m) Councillor Randall asked,

 

          “What is the effect of the credit crunch on the council’s investments?”

 

20.67   Councillor Young replied,

 

          “Like many organisations with substantial funds to invest the council is reviewing its investment policies all the time to reflect the rapidly changing market conditions.  The Annual Investment Strategy for 2008/09 approved by Full Council earlier this year has provided a robust framework to minimise the impact of the turmoil in the financial markets.

 

·          Firstly the ratings applied to each financial institution to assess credit worthiness ensure investment is made in only the highest quality names. Where institutions are rated downwards then these are either suspended or removed from the council’s lending list.

 

·          Secondly the investment parameters for each financial institution, such as the maximum amount invested in each institution and maximum period any investment in a particular institution can last, are regularly reviewed to ensure risk of loss through non repayment is minimised.  

 

          The financial crisis has meant short-term interest rates are higher than would normally be the case.  These higher rates combined with better than expected council cash-flows has resulted in higher levels of projected investment income to the council of some £600,000 in the current financial year.”

 

20.68  Councillor Randall asked a supplementary question, “Well, I understand today that we have to thank the financial wizards who work in our department for moving last year £1m out of the Icelandic Banks which have now caused so many problems, so I think we should start off by applauding them.  However, the situation changes daily and since the answer that I have been given by Councillor Young was written things have changed.  I think what I would like to know is if we can have regular updates and constant reassurances that there are no further threats to either jobs or services in this council?  I think all Councillors need to be kept abreast of that and indeed the general public.”

 

20.69  Councillor Young replied, “I was actually going to take the opportunity to advise the Members and the residents of Brighton & Hove City Council that we have no deposits in the Icelandic Banks.  We suspended transactions with the one that we had about a year ago after picking up concerns in the market place about the Icelandic Banks expanding too quickly.

 

          As you know our watchword is caution.  We are very aware of our responsibilities in managing taxpayers money and are very careful both about whom we invest with and how much we invest.  Clearly, as Councillor Randall said the overall financial situation is changing quite quickly and in an unpredictable way and in the current climate we will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and indeed, if necessary, on an hourly basis.  I know we can rely on excellent investment staff to steer a clear path through what will be difficult times.”

 

20.70  (n) Councillor Randall asked,

 

          “What is the effect of the credit crunch on the East Sussex Pension Fund investments?”

 

20.71   Councillor Young replied,

 

          “The East Sussex Pension Fund is administered by East Sussex County Council.  Investment decisions are made by the Pension Fund Investment Panel on which the council has two representatives.

 

          The Panel is required to take a long-term view when setting investment policy and regularly reviews the mix of investments.  Over the past few years the Panel has overseen a reduction in the proportion invested in equities and replaced this with cash and other fixed term investments.

 

          The turmoil in markets has given rise to a reduction in the value of the Pension Fund from £1.7 billion to £1.6 billion over the six month period to 30 September 2008 but the Fund still remains in a strong position to meet both its short-term and long-term pension liabilities.

 

          The reduction in the Fund’s value will not affect the council’s pension contributions to the Fund which were set in 2008/09 for three years.  The next review will be carried out during 2011 and any changes to the council’s contribution rate will be made in 2011/12.”

 

20.72  Councillor Randall asked a supplementary question “Councillor Young will know that in 2004 a hole of about £60m was found in the Pension Fund which was a cause for some concern amongst some people in this room and the other 7,000 or so people who work for this council.  We now know that there is quite a large reduction over the last six months in that Fund.  Again I think it is deeply important that the council keeps the staff, in particular, informed about what the situation is with the Pension Fund.  It is a very, very serious subject. 

 

          Incidentally, if East Sussex had invested more in ethical pensions and with ethical building societies they might not be in so much trouble but please could I again ask for information to be given on a regular basis and for everything to be transparent so we know what is happening?”

 

20.73  Councillor Young replied, “The response to your question was quite comprehensive as you know but I will take it upon myself to monitor, maybe not on a daily or an hourly basis but monthly to make sure that things are in accordance.”

 

20.74  (o) Councillor Meadows asked,

 

          “Would the Cabinet Member agree that Wild Park should be as accessible as possible to residents in Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, especially those who are old, young and disabled?”

 

20.75  Councillor Theobald replied,

 

          “Yes I do agree, but I am unsure whether your question relates to a specific difficulty of which I am unaware of.

 

          I am pleased to say that we have planning permission for the Wild Park toilets and contractors are expected to start on site in November, with the facility opening in January, which will have a ramp installed.  This means that not only will the toilet be accessible, but the ramp will also serve the café.”

 

20.76  Councillor Meadows asked a supplementary question, “First of all I would like to thank Councillor Theobald for his answer and it would have made an excellent second supplementary, however it is not my supplementary.

 

          Could the Cabinet Member commit to situating a controlled pedestrian crossing between Wild Park and the Barcombe Road shops?  Many of my constituents have complained about the dual carriageway that separates them from their homes and Wild Park.  They are prevented from crossing safely and easily, especially when they have young children or are elderly and disabled. 

 

Can the Member please tell me whether he will guarantee the health and safety of residents by installing a controlled pedestrian crossing for this part of Moulsecoomb?”

 

20.77  Councillor Theobald replied “Well I did try and consider what your supplementary questions might have been and I have to confess that I did not come up with that one.

 

          I would have thought that if your residents think what you say they think then you would have put a petition in, or you would have written, or you would have asked a question directly on that particular point to have enabled me to have responded, so I can’t give you a specific answer to that question and I don’t think you expected me to.”

 

20.78  Councillor Marsh asked a supplementary question “I am really quite upset and angry about this, in fact Councillor Meadows and I have both been very busy consulting the residents and consulting with officers asking for this particular crossing to be installed. 

 

          This is if you like and we hoped it was the first and only bit of the process that you would make this commitment, because I don’t know how many more children will have to be injured or how many more dangers we have to go through before you will commit to this.  Of course if you won’t then you will find us presenting petitions and having deputations and demonstrating and doing everything that we can to make this a safer place for residents in our Ward. 

 

          Would Councillor Theobald not agree that this is a matter of the highest priority and urgency for the residents of our Ward?”

 

20.79  “Unless I have got the data, unless I have got the facts, unless I have got the information in front of me, I cannot possibly give an answer and you should realise that.  It is ludicrous to come along and make those sorts of claims and expect me to say yes, no or what have you.  One needs these things and there is a priority system right across the city.  You should know that you were running this council for the last 20 years, you should be aware of that.”