Agenda item - Oral questions from Councillors

A list of Councillors who have indicated their desire to ask an oral question at the meeting along with the subject matters has been listed in the agenda papers.

103.1          The Mayor noted that notification of 8 oral questions had been received and that 30 minutes was set aside for the duration of the item.  He then invited Councillor A. Norman to put her question to Councillor Shanks.

 

Music Service – Councillor A. Norman

 

103.2          Councillor Norman asked the following question, “An additional £50,000 for the Music Service was agreed at Budget Council, can you please confirm that this money will be available for music service provision in 2013/2014?”

 

103.3          Councillor Shanks replied, “I can confirm that and we’ve been in discussion with the excellent Head of Music. At the moment we have a subsidy of 80% for children who want free school meals, so we’re proposing to make that 100% subsidy which has been raised before in Children’s Committee so that all children who have free school meals will have free music lessons and we would also move to a 50% subsidy for those people are presently on 80% subsidy who are on other forms of benefit.  We will then be able to allow an extra 70 children to take up lessons using that money. I think that’s a good use of those funds and I hope that we’ll have cross party support for that.”

 

103.4          Councillor Norman asked the following supplementary question, “I would like confirmation please that this additional money will be available for the Music Service to use in the way that the service thinks most appropriate. It should be for the Music Service to decide how it’s spent and I hope very much from Councillor Shanks’ initial answer that that is the case but could you please confirm that the Music Service will be able to use this money to enhance music and study support provision in the City as that service thinks best?”

 

103.5          Councillor Shanks replied, “This was the reply that we had from the Music Service of how they thought this was best to use this. Of course on of the aims is to improve access to music for young people who can’t afford it. That’s how they feel they can best use this and obviously we will support that because that’s one of the aims of the service and to have a national local subsidy to include that access.”

 

Lewes Road

 

103.6          Councillor Marsh asked the following question, “It’s on behalf of the beleaguered residents of Coombe Road Councillor West who are very fed up with the difficulties of accessing the Lewes Road from the Coombe Road but more especially about their road being used as a rat run which actually has happened before this latest set of traffic controls and they’ve come up with a couple of ideas and I would be very interested for Councillor Davey to consider these two ideas.

 

The first idea that they would like you to consider please, is that the Coombe Road area becomes an access-only area and that we have some signage put up which will discourage anyone except residents and those having genuine access to the area from using the area. So for example, Meadowview residents would come along Bevendean Road and then down Bear Road and people coming along Lewes Road would not be encouraged to zip off into Coombe Road and cause lots of queues and traffic mayhem. So that would be a nice consideration for us.

 

The second they’ve come up with which could be an addition or it could be a substitution is that there is a left turn permitted onto Bear Road from the Lewes Road which currently there isn’t.  Residents feel that perhaps because there isn’t that’s why people are zipping up Coombe Road and using it as a rat run and cutting off that corner, whereas if non-local traffic were actually able to access Bear Road from the Lewes Road and go up there, then this would actually make and enhance the area of Coombe Road very much and I would like some consideration given to that if you please.”

 

103.7          Councillor West replied on behalf of Councillor Davey who was absent, “The question of access into Coombe Road, I understand at the moment the work on the Lewes is the junction at the bottom of Coombe Road and the way that that works with Saunders Park Avenue as well; obviously that is on temporary traffic lights and one would expect there to be a certain level of disruption.  However I believe that is quite limited and officers, in response to your request, have been to have a look at the situation of people coming out of Coombe Road and they have increased the amount of green times to improve how many vehicles can move and I think that that should hopefully help people.  It is going to be another 3 or 4 weeks before that work is completed. There was a problem with some utilities under the pavement which have extended the time of the works so you’ll need to bear with us on that.

 

The issue on how to address rat running in that area and making it access only; well it is actually on a bus route and there would be knock on effect if we actually made Coombe Road just access-only. That would impact on Bear Road, Vogue Gyratory and more widely perhaps, so although officers are mindful of what you are saying there would be a downside of that and I think the point about this, perhaps to understand is, the improvements that we’re making on the Lewes Road; only about a third of people travelling down the Lewes Road corridor at the moment are in cars. An awful lot of people are travelling sustainably already and the work that we are doing investing in the Lewes Road is to actually increase the modal shift so that even more travelling sustainably.  So the best way to address the traffic issues in the Coombe Road area are to support the investment that we are putting in to Lewes Road because that would make it so much easier for people to travel sustainably from those areas and that will have a positive effect on reducing traffic problems in the areas you represent”

 

103.8          Councillor Marsh asked the following supplementary question, “Councillor Davey has turned down this request but I would ask again on behalf of not only the residents of Coombe Road, Meadowview, Bevendean and Moulsecoomb that we do have a residents and local  stakeholders regular meeting, say monthly, where issues can be taken up. Problems that arise during the improvement works can be looked on and tweaked and resident’s concerns addressed.   We’re very appreciative of Robin Reed who was sitting there until a little while ago of sending us monthly updates about what’s going on but that’s a one way system, it doesn’t enable residents to actually feed and it does mean an awful lot of work not only for Robin and his colleagues but my Ward Colleagues that the residents also try to pick up on these issues.

 

We did have for the AMEX Stadium, a Resident’s Liaison Group, I know I’ve been turned down before but if you don’t ask you don’t get.  Residents feel very strongly about this. It’s a long-term situation; please can we have a resident’s group?”

 

103.9          Councillor West replied,

 

“I know that Councillor Davey has actually been to look at the junction. First of all you were talking about the access problem which I understand are actually related to the works on Lewes Road and then secondly you were referring to rat running, Councillor Davey has been there along with officers to look at the access issue and as I say that situation has been improved.

 

We are doing major works along Lewes Road for good benefit so on has to bear with that. I know that officers are working incredibly to engage on a continual basis with the local community to make sure that the temporary issues that you’re facing are dealt with as soon as possible but also t hat we remain focused on the great benefit that we will receive from the changes that we are highly investing in as an administration.

 

I do think many people that are in the community there are appreciative of thework we’re doing and we’ll be very grateful for when the work is complete.”

 

Carbon Footprint

 

103.10      Councillor Janio asked the following question, “Would Councillor West agree with me that Brighton and Hove Council’s shocking drop of 649 down the Carbon Reduction Commitment League last year was a sad reflection on the chaotic way in which this Council has been run over the last couple of years.  And that a change of direction propelling us back towards the top of the league will only be achievable under a future Conservative administration following the Local Elections in 2015?”

 

103.11      Councillor West replied, “No, I don’t agree because the thing with this league table is that as we mentioned at Policy & Resources Committee, it’s actually quite flawed. The organisation that actually came on the very top of the league table on this occasion is a construction company. It doesn’t necessarily spring to your mind that they’re going to have the best carbon footprint of all the organisations.  They admitted themselves that the reason why they did so well out of it is because they no longer have to report the amount of fuel they were using.  So this particular league table makes absolutely no sense.

 

               One of the beneficial points about it is that it takes into consideration, early actions like the fitting of automatic meter reading which is something that we’re introducing which yourselves didn’t do, so the legacy that we have is that as a Council is that you weren’t doing certain things before us that would have been beneficial to our standing within the league table.  But if he wishes to look forward to an opportunity where a Conservative administration of this Council will improve our standing in the league table I’m afraid he’d be disappointed because his Government is actually scrapping this flawed system and we won’t have this league table anymore.”

 

103.12      Councillor Janio asked the following supplementary question, “Would Councillor West agree with me that until the Conservatives do form the next Administration it would be advantageous if a cross party consensus were to develop with a regard to the environmental policies across this city and that the recent decisions by the Labour Party such as refusing to support the Eco Show and a shameful lack of support for the Biosphere Reserve Conservative Initiative, supported by the Greens, is not only not helpful it is also extremely regrettable.”

 

103.13      Councillor West replied, “I think the question was, am I very unhappy that the Labour Group didn’t support the Biosphere Reserve? I think that it was regrettable that that was the situation; I think that, like with One Planet Living, the Labour Party have realised they need to catch up with the direction this city is going in, that we are collectively behind the various positive initiative that this Administration is putting forward and that it is in the best interests of the economy as well as the local environment of this city that we do these things.  So I am very glad that the Labour Group is finally catching up and that at Policy & Resources Committee, last week, they actually supported the One Planet Sustainability Action Plan which they hadn’t seen any value in before.”

 

Grit Bins, Downs Park Estate, North Portslade

 

103.14      Councillor Gilbey asked the following question, “Downs Park is a Housing Estate; it has no shops no and no other infrastructure in my ward. It has one grit bin which is at the very end near Hangleton Bottom on Foredown Hill; it is a very hilly area there are 1000 people living there. It is about 200,000m² area and I would like Councillor West to give consideration to looking at the area to put another grit bin in.”

 

103.15      Councillor West replied, “I’m sure we can have a look at the actual circumstances but I’m very aware that over the last few years since we’ve been having bad winters, as a council, we’ve actually more than doubled the number of grit bins in the city.  In fact an awful lot of them are in the hillier suburban parts of the city where snow has the biggest effect usually, though on this occasion the City Centre was quite badly affected.

 

               We actually have more grit bins for our area as a City than many other councils and we have got to the point that that is the number that we can actually service when the weather is bad because you’ve got to be able to get out there to fill them up.  So we’re not looking to increase the number but I think we can probably look at the individual circumstance to see whether that merits an additional bin.”

 

103.16      Councillor Gilbey asked the following supplementary question, “This area, as I say, only has one bin. I know other areas in the City need bins. The point is; the equipment is actually situated right up the northern end by Hangleton Bottom. It means that people have to walk a mile and a half just to get some grit and back.  I did go up there after the snow and it was three quarters full which means people aren’t actually getting there to access it.  Would you like to come over to the west, Councillor West and have a look for yourself?”

 

103.17      Councillor West replied, “I will come and have a look but I’ll bring an officer with me because there’s more chance that something can get done then.”

 

Traveller Costs

 

103.18      Councillor Barnett asked the following question, “Thurrock Councils’ joint protocol with Essex Police for dealing with unauthorised travellers’ encampments states, ‘They will deem any individuals on any unauthorised encampment accountable for any litter or refuse left behind on the site of the unauthorised encampment and will seek to issue a fixed penalty notice and recover the costs.’  Following the recent festival up at Devil’s Dyke Road with the abandoned caravans and fly tipped rubbish, why did Councillor West suggest in the press, ‘it’s not legally possible to recover costs’ when other Council’s such as Thurrock are willing and able to do so.”

 

103.19      Councillor West replied, “When you evict, you can’t actually charge people for the leaving of things behind because it’s under the eviction laws rather than if they have just fly tipped something by leaving an abandoned vehicle.   I recall the response to that was about the legal differences. As far as whether it’s worth pursuing enforcement and the cost of doing so, we obviously have to take a valued judgement on whether that is a good course and use of public money. What is true to be said is that over the past 5 years and not just the last 2 years the cost of the whole traveller service has actually been escalated, and the reasons behind that, and it’s principally the cost of dealing with unauthorised encampments that has been going on, is because there are less acceptable and traditional places that Travellers stop now available for them to do so and so they’re finding themselves in places where they are regularly going to be evicted and the costs are going up.

 

               That is the symptom of the situation and the actual response to it, rather than throwing good money after bad, intensifying our actions upon unauthorised encampments, is in our proposals to bring forward proper provision which we are expected to do so by the Government. We’re expected to provide the number of 16 spaces by 2016 and a further 3 by 2019 which is exactly why we are planning to develop a permanent site at Horsdean and it will have a very positive effect for the Travellers who are seeking stability but also the settled community who clearly are very upset when unauthorised encampments occur in their area.”

 

103.20      Councillor Barnett asked the following supplementary question, “Is the Council taking any action to recover some of the £107,000 costs that were incurred when the group of Travellers, who are now camped unlawfully, at Withdean car park, broke into Horsdean Transit Site over the Christmas?  We know who they are, they’re on council land and this is an ideal opportunity to get recompense for the Council Tax Payers.  Councillor West, if you or I cause such criminal damage to public property the Police would be on to us straight away.”

 

103.21      Councillor West replied, “I’m sure if we have the evidence then we will be able to pursue individuals but that is always the problem and whether it is cost effective to do so as well, that matter will be weighed up. It was very unfortunate that we had trespassers on the site before Christmas but it was because we took swift action to bring about an eviction after Christmas that actually we limited the cost that we may have otherwise incurred.

 

               I know there’s been some headline figures over spend against the Traveller Service that have come up in the TBM report and Policy and Resources Committee but actually the projected overspend is a lot more in trim than it was looking like a couple of months ago and that is because of the swift action that we have taken on that particular problem.”

 

Buses

 

103.22      Councillor Meadows asked the following question, “As a Ward Councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, I am concerned about the declining BACA Student Role and some of that concern is around the lack of a dedicated bus route from other areas in the City to the school.  So my question is will the Council support the local school by investigating and reconsidering the reinstatement of better transport links to BACA?”

 

103.23      Councillor Shanks replied on behalf of Councillor Davey who was absent, “We have had discussions with BACA about transport, the more the parents choose a school, the more popular a school gets.  That’s part of the issue in terms of getting to the school but there have been discussions with BACA and we are looking at how we could support that.  The main issue is making sure that children who have chosen a school and have got a place at the school can get there. We are continuing the 74 and 75 buses which go from that area up to Patcham.

 

               We’ve been reviewing school transport as you know and the BACA issue; we’ve had discussion and I know Councillor Kitcat and our Chief Executive, Penny Thompson, have also been in discussions with BACA.  We are aware of the issue but it is also an issue of parents choosing that school and we’d like to encourage parents to choose that school which is an improving school.”

 

103.24      Councillor Meadows asked the following supplementary question, “Parents are unlikely to choose a school if there are no transport links to access that school.  Would you not agree with me that the re-instatement of a dedicated bus service like the number 90 which served Whitehawk, Queen’s Park, Elm Grove and the Lewes Road up to Falmer that this saved many young pupils multiple journeys to get to and from school and who can no longer stay on after school at extra curricular activities as they face long and complicated journeys home.  Would you not agree with me that a dedicated bus service would inevitably increase pupil numbers, give confidence to parents and let their children attend this fantastic state of the art school?”

 

103.25      Councillor Shanks replied, “If you have enough pupils who choose the school; we need to make sure they can get there; an issue arises if we lay on a bus route and we still don’t get the applications to that school.  We’ve just had a review of school buses, as you know, and we’re looking at the best ways of improving access to public transport for children so it is on our agenda.”

 

Council Assets

 

103.26      Councillor K. Norman asked the following question, “This historical vehicle registration number, CD1 was donated to Brighton in perpetuity and became a very important part of the mayoral system first in Brighton and more recently in Brighton and Hove. It’s an absolute disgrace, in my mind, that it is even being considered for disposal. The right thing to do should have been to transfer it to the current Mayoral Car for just £80 and, Councillor Kitcat, you and your colleagues will go down in history as being the political group that belittled the very high reputation that all Mayors of Brighton have built up over a century and a half.

 

               What is the value of the current offer?  When was it received and who will be making the decision regarding the acceptance or refusal of that offer?”

 

103.27      Councillor J. Kitcat replied, “Before this item came to Budget Council and Councillors will recall that the Conservative amendment to prevent the sale was lost and that it is the will of the Full Council for the sale of the number plate to proceed.  There was an extensive search by officers to try and identify the source of the CD1 number plate and it appears to be urban legend that it has been donated.  There is no evidence whatsoever that it was donated in perpetuity or anything else.  There are lots of suggestions, lots of histories people try to re-tell but there is no documentary evidence whatsoever as to the provenance of the CD1 number plate and that is the case that it was checked extensively because we wanted to make sure that we would not be breaching any trust before it came to Full Council for a decision to make sure councillors made an informed choice.

 

               I have to say, Mr. Mayor, that I think both yourself and Mayors beforehand, that the number plate on your vehicle plays little or no part in the reputation that you carry with you and I think that the role and your demeanour has a great part to play as well of course the ceremonial mace and the chains.  So the CD1 is a number plate, it’s a piece of plastic which has no obvious connection with the Council or the City but there are plenty of 3^rd Sector Charities crying out for cash as this Government reigns down its austerity cuts and the least that we can do is sell off a piece of plastic for the most that we can to support those who are in the greatest need in this City.

 

               So it was put up for sale, while I did receive some informal offers at a recent business awards, they were somewhat short of our expectations.  We have received, on the 19^th March 2013, a formal offer of £80,000, we have asked and we have consulted with both of the other groups about this, we have proceeded to ask the agent to negotiate with this potential buyer to see if we could increase that price at all but £80,000 is a good sum of money which I’m sure would be much appreciated by the 3^rd Sector in this City and it is the intention to proceed with that if possible.”

 

103.28      Councillor Norman asked the following supplementary question, “Most of you are not Brightonians or Hovarians, you have come in to this City, a once great City of ours and you’re systematically destroying it and the majority of the population will never forgive you for most of these things as they won’t forgive you for your furious moves to paint ‘20mph’ on every single street on our road.  What are you planning to spend the £80,000 on should you agree to it and incidentally should my Leader agree to it as well because it seems that all 3 need to agree on this.  What will you spend that £80,000 on which is less than half the asking price and who will be losing out because of the missing £95,000 on your original expectations?

 

               And currently at 15:30pm today, the plate was still for sale and 2 traders are offering it for sale, one is at £174,995 and the main trader at a £150,000.  So there’s discrepancy of £25,000 in those two asking prices. So what are you planning to spend that £80,000 because you’ve lost £90,000 if you take up that offer and the people you say you’re going to help, won’t get that money.”

 

103.29      Councillor Kitcat replied, “It’s somewhat conflictual for Councillor Norman to be lecturing me on whether   people are going to lose the money when he’s been lecturing me on not selling the number plate at all.  So what do you want?  Do you want the money for the 3^rd Sector or not?   Ultimately as, I’m sure, both Councillor Normans will recall, that at Budget Council the estimate was £120,000 but it’s normal when you’re trying to sell something to maximise the value so the sell price was above that estimate to try and maximise the offers. The buyer who has put in a firm bid is currently away so the negotiations haven’t concluded hence it’s still showing for sale.  It’s quite clear in the terms at Budget Council, that they would be used for capital support for the Voluntary and Community Organisations within the City and I know that Councillor Norman and others do spend a lot of time supporting those but I do have to say Mr. Mayor that talking ‘Brightonians’ and ‘Hovarians’ is completely unpleasant and it’s not really becoming of this chamber.  We all stand here elected by the people of this City and that’s what we should be focusing on.”

 

Corporate Risk

 

103.30      Councillor Mears asked the following question, “As we know Brighton Marina is a unique asset in the City.  No tax payers money was spent in building the Marina, £56,000,000 of private money was invested this will be around £3,000,000,000 in today’s money. As all Councillors know when a possible corporate risk is brought to their attention it is their responsibility to ensure that the issue is raised and as I am doing so today and as we heard earlier, through the deputation regarding the Marina.  Following on from the changes in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 which came in to force on 12 January 2011 the MMO has indicated that a particular target will be developers who attempt to carry out large schemes of development by making a series of Licensing Applications to cover small phases of works, without informing the MMO of the over all scheme of development. Will the Leader of the Council take responsibility to ensure the Marine and Coastal Act 2009 is followed to protect the Marina?”

 

103.31      Councillor J. Kitcat replied, “An act of Parliament is a matter for Parliament but I’m very conscious of the responsibilities and am happy to respond in more detail to Councillor Mears as the issues progress.”

 

103.32      Councillor Mears asked the following supplementary question, “I will wait for a proper written response because this is a very serious issue not only for this council but for the City and its residents.  As I said the Marina is unique and needs protection and although; not a Planning consideration, the Marine licenses are important to protect and enhance the Marina, to this end will the Leader of the Council ensure that any development in the Marina goes before the Planning Committee for openness and transparency to ensure that not only the Council but the residents in this City can clearly see what decisions are made on the Marina?”

 

103.33      Councillor Kitcat replied, “I’m very supportive of the work that our Planning Department do and I know that they always conduct everything they do with openness and transparency and that all the applications brought forward to the Planning Committee will be done so in the most open and transparent and clear way and I’m sure that both officers, Ward Councillors and the developers will be seeking to engage with the community.

 

               I certainly had conversations with Professor Watts who was here earlier, with the developers at Brunswick Developments and other interested parties but I’m very conscious and respectful of the fact that it is not in my ward and so I do want to ensure that we engage fully on that and have conversations and ensure that everyone who does wish to express a view has an opportunity to do so.”