Agenda item - Items referred from Council

To consider the following matters referred from the last meeting of Full Council held on 27 March 2014 (copy attached)

(a)               Petitions: To receive any petitions presented by members of the public

(i)                 Hove Station Footbridge- Linda Freeman

(ii)               Playground in Central Hove- Councillor Wealls

(iii)             Crossing on Eastern Road- Councillor Mitchell

(iv)             Wild Park- Councillor Meadows

(a)                     Petitions

(i)                       Hove Station footbridge- Linda Freedman

103.1          The Committee considered a petition signed by 220 people requesting the Department for Transport and Network Rail to fund improved access to the station via Hove Station footbridge. The petition had been referred from the meeting of Full Council held on 27 March 2014.

103.2          The Chair provided the following response:

“Mrs Freedman, thank you for your petition regarding the funding of access improvements to the existing footbridge at Hove Station.

I am aware from the presentation that both you and Ms Keeble made when lodging your petition with the Mayor at the full Council meeting on 27 March that one of specific issues that you are seeking to resolve is the lack of adequate access at the northern side, especially for disabled people.

I have also noted that your petition is directed to the responsible, national organisations that would be expected to have initial responsibility for such an improvement, rather than the city council.

In that respect, I would like to recommend to the Committee that we note the petition and request that the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing writes to those organisations informing them of the improvements that you are requesting from them, and that the principle  of that request is supported.”

103.3          Councillor Janio requested that the Committee receive feedback on the matter.

103.4          The Chair stated that any response received would be circulated to the Committee members.

103.5          Councillor Cox requested that any response to the letters also be circulated to the petitioner.

103.6          The Chair stated that any circulation would include the petitioner.

103.7          RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.

(ii)          Playground in central Hove- Councillor Wealls

103.8          The Committee considered a combined paper and e-petition signed by 219 people that requested Brighton & Hove City Council to build a playground in the central Hove area, near to West Hove Infant School. The petition had been referred from the meeting of Full Council held on 27 March 2014.

103.9          The Chair provided the following response:

Thank you for your petition regarding the request for a playground in central Hove.

“Playgrounds are important facilities for children to socialise play and learn and are important for their development and health. 

We are lucky that in Brighton & Hove we have 50 playgrounds across the city and we have recently completed a program of improvements to 26 of these over the last four years, mainly using external funding. These play areas have an improved range of equipment to suit all abilities and ages and have, where possible, included much improved landscaping and other opportunities for informal play. 

Officers have looked at the provision of playgrounds around central Hove and the closest sites are: Hove Park, Stoneham Park, Aldrington Recreation Ground and St Anns Well Gardens.  These sites are between a 10 and 25 minute walk from West Hove Infant School.  All these playgrounds have been improved over recent years and I am aware of how popular they are.

Unfortunately we are not in a position to build new playgrounds.  At a time of significant budget cuts we do not have the capital resources to design and build new sites and our revenue budgets to maintain the sites we currently have are also under increasing pressure”. 

103.10       RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.

(iii)                   Crossing across Eastern Road at Sussex Square- Councillor Mitchell

103.11      The Committee considered a petition signed by 82 people that requested Brighton & Hove City Council to install a pedestrian controlled crossing across Eastern Road at Sussex Square. The petition had been referred from the meeting of Full Council held on 27 March 2014.

103.12       The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you for your petition.

This location is currently under investigation following your representations.  Site observations have been carried out and assessments of driver awareness and behaviour are in the process of being undertaken – as well as a review of pedestrian crossing activity.

This petition for a change to the form of crossing will be assessed in line with the Council’s adopted procedure for pedestrian crossings and any justification for a change to the existing crossing will be brought before the ETS Committee”.

103.13       RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.

(iv)         Petition for Wild Park- Councillor Meadows

103.14      The Committee considered a petition signed by 638 people requesting Brighton & Hove City Council to install physical measures to prevent incursions into Wild Park by Travellers.

103.15       The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you for your petition and may I state that I understand the strength of feeling on this matter and assure residents that the council always takes petitions and residents concerns seriously.

I have discussed this matter with officers who also take residents concerns very seriously and I know there have been thorough conversations with residents on the matter.

The council do not welcome unauthorised encampments and act swiftly on encampments on open parks. Protection has recently been increased in Wild Park although this had not stopped incursions.

Officers have agreed to put further measures into place specifically, a steepening of banks to act as a deterrent.

It is possible that a determined element will continue to try to gain unauthorised access but we are going to invest in further protection measures and I hope these will be sufficient”

103.16      Councillor Theobald stated that he sympathised with the petition and with residents. Councillor Theobald added that the Conservative Group had on several occasions formally requested for an increase in use of Section 61 powers and he believed it was a pity the other political groups had not supported those requests.

103.17      The Chair replied that it had been explained a number of times that only Sussex Police could use Section 61 powers and they had made it clear that these powers would be used proportionally.

103.18      RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.