Agenda item - Petitions for Council Debate

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

(a)       Stand Up for Brighton and Hove’s Live Music Venues – Lead Petitioner Mr. M. Stack;

(b)       Save the Brighton Hippodrome – Lead Petitioner Mr. D. Fisher

(c)       Preston Park Cycle Track – Lead Petitioner Mr. R. Rivett;

(d)       King Alfred Indoor Bowling – Lead Petitioner Mr. J. English.

70.         (A) LIVE MUSIC VENUES

70.1.        The Mayor stated that the council’s petition scheme provided that where a petition secured 1,250 or more signatures it could be debated at a Council meeting.  He had been notified of four such petitions which had sufficient signatures to warrant a debate and therefore would call on the lead petitioner to present their petition before opening the matter up for debate.  He also noted that one of the petitions listed in the agenda had been withdrawn and therefore three remained for debate.

70.2.        Mr. Stack presented his petition which called on the council to review its procedures and protocols in respect of noise abatement notices served on live music venues across the city.  He stated that the petition had reached two signatures short of 4, 700 supporters and explained that he believed a loophole existed in the law which enabled a person to move close to, nest to and even into the same building as a long established music venue and then use the legal process to reduce the level of noise from the music venue.  Such action had even led to the closure of venues across the city and needed to be addressed to protect the city’s culture and its live music heritage.  He asked that when councillors saw a musician, attended a concert or the fringe festival they should remember the petition and consider the ramifications of not taking an action to protect them.

70.3.        Councillor Simson stated that the petition had raised an important consideration and that the need for the Environmental Protection Act to be reviewed was supported in principal by the Conservative Group.

70.4.        Councillor Bowden thanked Mr. Stack for his petition and stated that he believed it had raised an important issue and one that should be explored further and therefore wished to move an amendment to the recommendation contained in the covering report.  He proposed that a cross-party task group should be established to review the current practice and report back to the Economic Development & Culture Committee; given the wide ranging and cross-service aspects that needed to be considered.

70.5.        Councillor Randall formally seconded the amendment.

70.6.        Councillor Mitchell noted that the Mayor had previously given advice that the petition should be referred to the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee as it was responsible for the noise abatement service.  She therefore sought clarification from the Monitoring Officer.

70.7.        The Monitoring Officer informed the council that the petition was primarily concerned with the use of noise abatement orders which came under the responsibility of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.  It was therefore appropriate for the petition to be referred to the committee.  Should the council decide to recommend the consideration of establishing a Policy Panel to look at the matter, the committee could take this into account and establish a task and finish panel.

70.8.        Councillor Mitchell thanked the Monitoring Officer and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group fully supported the petition and the amendment on the basis that it would be left to the committee to decide whether or not to establish a Policy Panel, which would need to look across all areas of the council’s functions relating to live music and venues.

70.9.        Councillor Bowden noted the information and indicated that he was happy for the petition to be referred to the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee. 

70.10.     The Mayor noted that an amendment to the recommendation in the report had been moved and put it to the vote which was carried.  He then put the recommendation as amended to the vote which was also carried.

70.11.     RESOLVED: That the petition be noted and referred to the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee for consideration along with the establishment of a Policy Panel to review the issues raised in the petition for live music and venues in the city.

(B) SAVETHE BRIGHTON HIPPODROME

70.12.     The Mayor noted that the item had been withdrawn.

(C) PRESTON PARK CYCLE TRACK

70.13.     Mr. Rivett presented the petition which had 3,641 signatures of support for the retention of the cycle track in Preston Park.  He noted that it was the oldest track in the country and that without support it would see the end of competitive cycle track racing in the city.  He therefore urged the council to consider how the required maintenance of the track could be achieved and how it could be supported for the future.

70.14.     Councillor West thanked Mr. Rivett for the petition and stated that he applauded the interest in the track and the amount of support that had been generated by the petition.  He had visited the track recently and seen the need for improvements to be made if it was to reach the required safety standards.  He therefore wished to propose that the recommendation in the covering report be amended to request that officers bring a full report to the next meeting detailing options to fund the required improvements and to maintain a competitive facility.

70.15.     Councillor Powell formally seconded the amendment.

70.16.     Councillor Lepper welcomed the petition and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group fully supported its objective.  She hoped that the report requested would identify the means to fund the improvements and support the track for future generations.

70.17.     Councillor G. Theobald stated that he fully supported the petition but queried whether any assistance had been sought from the British Cycling Association; as it may be that grant funding would be available to help meet the cost of the required improvements to the track.  He believed there was an opportunity for partnership working and supported the amendment.

70.18.     Councillor West stated that he was aware that the British Cycling Association had made an offer of some funding and stated that he hoped officers would hold further discussions with the Association so that a detailed report could be brought to the next committee meeting.

70.19.     The Mayor noted that an amendment to the recommendation in the report had been moved and put it to the vote which was carried.  He then put the recommendation as amended to the vote which was also carried.

70.20.     RESOLVED: That the petition be noted and referred to the Economic, Development & Culture Committee for consideration along with a report from officers detailing options to fund the required improvements and to maintain a competitive facility.

(D) KING ALFRED INDOOR BOWLING

70.21.     Mr. English presented a petition signed by 1,612 people calling on the council to review its plans for the provision of indoor bowling facilities, to ensure that a fully functional facility was provided as part of the redevelopment of the King Alfred sports centre.  Mr. English stated that there had been a lack of consultation in regard to the proposed downgrading of the facilities from 6 to 3 lanes and a lack of understanding in regard to the impact such a reduction would have on indoor bowls across the city.

70.22.     Councillor Bowden thanked Mr. English for attending the meeting and presenting the petition.  He stated that the King Alfred Project Board which had cross-party representation had taken advice from Sports England and received representations from the business community and the Local Economic Partnership as part of the process of drawing up development plan for the redevelopment of the King Alfred.  Having done that the council now had two preferred bidders and was awaiting their detailed proposals for consideration and whilst a 3 lane indoor bowling facility was listed as the minimum specification, it did not mean that the potential developers would not exceed that requirement in their plans.  He was sure that the two bidders were fully aware of the level of interest in the redevelopment of the King Alfred and that they would take into account current levels of provision in relation to activities such as indoor bowls. He also noted that there would be a further consultation exercise once the two preferred bidders were announced.

70.23.     Councillor Hamilton stated that he had not been aware of the proposed reduction from 6 to 3 lanes for the indoor bowls facility and noted that during the league season 3 lanes had to be set aside for league matches.  He therefore hoped that an enhanced provision would be outlined in any of the proposed developments as otherwise it was likely to result in the loss of a club at the King Alfred.

70.24.     Councillor Cox noted that indoor bowls could be played by people of all ages and they could compete against each other on a level playing field.  He also suggested that the space set aside for an indoor bowls facility could be used for other activities when it was not being used for bowling and suggested that the potential developers would be aware of the support for a suitable and viable facility.  He therefore hoped that the need for at least a 6 lane facility would be taken into account in any redevelopment proposals.

70.25.     Councillor Bowden noted the comments and stated that the issue had been raised rather late in the development stage but he hoped that the potential developers would take the matter into consideration when they put their plans forward.

70.26.     The Mayor noted that the recommendation was to refer the petition to the Economic Development & Culture Committee for consideration and put the recommendation to the vote, which was carried.

70.27.     RESOLVED: That the petition be noted and referred to the Economic, Development & Culture Committee for consideration.