Agenda item - Written questions from Councillors.

Note:  Councillors written questions as detailed will be taken as read along with the written answer at the meeting.  The Councillor asking the question may ask one relevant supplementary question which shall be put and answered without discussion.  One other supplementary question may be asked by any other Member of the Council which shall also be put and answered without discussion (a separate addendum with the written answers will be circulated at the meeting).

 

35.1       The Mayor reminded the council that councillors’ 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:

 

35.2       (a) Councillor Morgan asked:

 

"Can the Cabinet Member for Housing say on what dates numbers 68 and 74 Manor Way became vacant, when repair work to return them to use will begin, and how long it will be before new tenants will be able to move in?"

 

35.3       Councillor Caulfield replied:

 

“68 Manor Way is a 3-bedroom house which became empty on 23 December 2007.  The previous tenant carried out some DIY alterations to the loft which has rendered the roof structure unstable, and the property unfit for occupation. 

 

74 Manor Way is a 2-bedroom house which became empty on 7 October 2007.  The previous tenant undertook unauthorised alterations to amend the internal layout of the property.  Walls have been removed in the kitchen and living room to enlarge those areas and the main bedroom has been divided to form an extra bedroom.  There have been associated electrical DIY with these alterations, and as a result the mid-floor and staircase have been destabilised.  

 

A programme has now commenced to bring these properties back into use.  A structural report on the properties and a subsequent specification and pricing of works is currently being prepared.  Following this, work to both these properties will be procured with a view to the properties being brought back into use early in the new financial year.”

 

35.4       Councillor Morgan asked a supplementary question, “Does the Cabinet Member feel that a year is an acceptable turn around time for void properties and does this apply to the more than 40 empty and much needed family homes across the city also vacant?”

 

35.5       Councillor Caulfield replied, “I am surprised to hear that as a supplementary question given that when we came into Administration there were 40 long term voids that we took on that had been empty for a considerable period of time.  I cannot say for sure but I am almost 100% certain that they were well over a year.

 

The mess that the council housing stock was left in has taken us a considerable amount of time and hard work with our tenants in order to come up with a plan but we do have a plan.

 

We have got £45m worth of investment that will be coming in that will clear all our void properties.  We also have a recharge policy that we are bringing out in the New Year and discussing this with tenants now which will be coming to the Housing Management Consultative Committee, so it will no longer be possible for tenants to leave their properties in a state and for council tenants to have to pay to have those properties put back into use.  Anyone that leaves their property in such a state will have to pay for it or not be allowed to transfer on the Housing Register, so we can assure you that this will not be happening again.  We have got investment to put the situation right and that has only taken us eighteen months in Administration.”

 

35.6       Councillor Wells asked a further supplementary question, “Would the Cabinet Member for Housing agree with me that as the previous Labour Administration had no plans for the future of our council homes, thereby refusing to invest money and allowing them to fall to a standard below that required of Her Majesty’s Government for decent living, that this is probably the reason why there are old houses and still pockets of them that need major repairs?”

 

35.7       Councillor Caulfield replied, “I would agree that there was no plan B if the tenants had voted no for the housing transfer.  We have come up with a plan B and this will be going ahead from 1 April next year, so I would agree with you that there was no plan B and we have had to come up with one.”

 

35.8       (b) Councillor Marsh asked:

 

“Would the Cabinet member for Environment describe what he is doing to promote and ensure that cycle lanes and routes are safe to use throughout the city and especially in my ward?”

 

35.9       Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“The city council has been awarded Cycling Town status for the second time, which means continued funding for cycle promotion, training and infrastructure over the next three years.  In terms of safety, officers are working proactively with Sussex Road Traffic Police strategically to tackle cycling safety issues, including where cycle facilities are compromised by other road users.  The council is seeking to widen the remit of this partnership to cover the city as a whole. 

 

The city council has also trained over 1200 school children this year, through Bikeability cycle training, giving children the experience and the skills they need to cycle responsibly and safely.  As of 2009, all cycle training courses delivered in our schools will be to this new national standard.  Officers are developing Travel Plans with both Brighton and Sussex Universities and Southern Water for their students and staff.”

 

35.10    Councillor Marsh asked a supplementary question, “I am very grateful for Councillor Theobald’s reply which confirms that there is going to be continued funding for cycle promotion.  No doubt some of that funding will be the extra £1.5m that the Labour Government gave to our city as a cycle demonstration town.  We would hope that every penny of it will be spent wisely, encouraging more people to get on their bikes and making it safer.

 

I would like the Cabinet Member please to tell me when he is going to do something about the lethal cycle lanes in Lewes Road?  These are presently situated extremely dangerously in between parked cars and the main carriageway, forcing cyclists to swerve in and out and dice with death on a daily basis and I understand they are advisory, not mandatory.

Please could the Cabinet Member ensure that money is spent to make these safe, to reposition them and to make them mandatory thus ensuring that the many students and other people who use these on a daily basis do not have to daily dice with death?”

 

35.11    Councillor Theobald replied, “I must have spent 15 to 18 months trying to sort out all the problems that the Labour Administration left me with.  This is just another one.  I will do my best.”

 

35.12    (c) Councillor Alford asked:

 

“How many of our primary phase schools are now rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted?”

 

35.13    Councillor Mrs Brown replied:

 

“43 of our primary phase schools (76%) are rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted (Two of these are maintained nursery schools).  13 were judged to be outstanding (23%), 30 were judged to be good (53%) and 14 were judged to be satisfactory (24%).  We have no schools in an Ofsted ‘category’ (0%).”

 

35.14    Councillor Alford asked a supplementary question, “Perhaps the Cabinet Member for Education would give us some reasons to account for these better Ofsted grades that we seem to have at the moment?”

 

35.15    Councillor Mrs Brown replied, “You are right, this is a real success story.  We have far more good and outstanding primary schools than most other authorities and definitely more than our statistical or close neighbours. 

 

I put this success down to the dedication of the staff in our schools and the hard work of the pupils.  There is also a close working relationship between the schools and the officers working in the Children & Young People’s Trust and we provide prompt support if it is needed and we have also fostered an ethos of high expectation.”

 

35.16    Councillor Hawkes asked a further supplementary question, “Does Councillor Brown welcome the opportunity for the council to bid for a sizeable share of the Labour Government’s £9.3 billion building schools for the future programme that aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in the country?”

 

35.17    Councillor Mrs Brown replied, “We are always very pleased to accept any money from any government if it is going to improve our school stock.”

 

35.18    (d) Councillor Kitcat asked:

 

"Can Councillor Theobald confirm the timetable for the introduction of communal bins into the city centre and provide details on: The procurement of new bins, including how they will meet accessibility requirements for our older residents; and on preparations for methods to measure and improve recycling rates in bin areas, as agreed at the Environment Committee on 13 September 2007 (recommendation 2.5, as amended)?"

 

35.19    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“I cannot, at this stage, confirm a timetable, but it is anticipated that a phased roll out will commence in January.  I have asked that Ward Councillors are informed of these plans as soon as they have been finalised.  As you know we already have over 200 communal bins in the city and over 90% of residents have found the bins easy to use.  For those residents who cannot take their rubbish to a communal bin we offer to collect the refuse from their home.  In February we will be writing to all residents about their new recycling collection days and issuing a calendar of the new dates.  In the early summer we plan to implement a new recycling communications campaign targeting the city centre.  This is likely to involve door knocking.  Again, Councillors will be informed of the details nearer the time.”

 

35.20    Councillor Kitcat asked a supplementary question, “I am disappointed that after 2½ months there is still no timetable for communal bins being introduced but can Councillor Theobald confirm whether any adjudication process will be provided to rule between residents when none of them wish to see a communal bin right outside their property, even beside a window which they open in the summer?”

 

35.21    Councillor Theobald replied, “You might have noticed that we are trying to embed an existing system with changing our rounds so you will appreciate that and there is not an adjudication system.”

 

35.22    Councillor Fryer asked a further supplementary question, “There are rumours that recycling rounds are also being reduced in February, so can Councillor Theobald confirm that this is the case and reassure us that there will not be the same level of chaos with the changing rounds as has happened in the recent change in rubbish collection rounds as this would have a very negative effect on people’s willingness to recycle?”

 

35.23    Councillor Theobald replied, “I thought that you and your Group would have been aware that this is part of the programme which has gone through Council, so that’s already on the cards to do that.

 

I think that you know that this is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, change that has happened in this city and, of course, it is an enormous change and I am sure that Councillor Mitchell would agree with me because under their Administration there were numerous problems. 

 

Quite frankly this is a big change and we have been working with the Unions on this and we will continue to work with the Unions because there will be very considerable long-term benefits for you, me and for our council tax payers.”

 

35.24    (e) Councillor Morgan asked:

 

"Can the Cabinet Member for Environment reassure the council that there have been no redundancies, and no reduction in crews or rounds, which have contributed to the appalling list of missed refuse collections that residents of my ward and others have had to experience over the past month?"

 

35.25    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“The reason for the refuse changes as we all know is because the new waste transfer station has opened and our crews no longer need to travel to Beddingham to tip.  This saves time and means that we have reduced the number of crews.  So, to be clear of the order of this – the waste transfer station was agreed and built and opened – then rounds needed to be changed, then crews were reduced and voluntary redundancies offered.

 

We have been working very well with the GMB, and agreed a voluntary redundancy package.  The officer report published in August that you will have read is a public document which explains all this.”

 

35.26    Councillor Morgan asked a supplementary question, “Now that he has confirmed the reduction in crews and redundancies can the Cabinet Member pledge that there will be no further cuts to frontline refuse or recycling services and will he apologise to those residents who have had to wait days or even weeks for their bins to be emptied?”

 

35.27    Councillor Theobald replied, “We have already indicated our proposals for change which went through this Council.  You know what those changes are so therefore there will be no more changes over and above what this Council has agreed at that particular time.

 

Obviously, I am extremely sorry for residents who have been put to inconvenience.  We are doing our best to embed this change: staff are working all hours, seven days a week to try and ensure that this service is a good one for this city but one thing I do know it is a service that we will be gaining financially from this service after all these changes have been embedded.”

 

35.28    (f) Councillor Morgan asked:

 

"Will the Cabinet Member for Communities explain what she means when she says that future funding to tackle deprivation and social exclusion will go to "people not places"?"

 

35.29    Councillor Simson replied:

 

“Councillor Morgan is of course referring to the article in the Argus on 21 October reporting on hidden poverty in the city.  Using evidence from the Reducing Inequality Review the article presents information that no party can deny – that inequality is spread throughout the city:

 

·       Of the 25,000 people of working-age receiving benefits across the city 16,000 (64%) do not live in the most deprived 20% areas

 

·       Of the 4,000 children living in low income or out of work families across the city nearly 60% do not live in the most deprived areas

 

·       Of the 41,000 adults with no qualification across the city, 75% do not live in the most deprived areas

 

With this evidence it would be irresponsible of the Administration to continue to maintain a focus solely on place.  Otherwise there is a significant risk that some households, families and children will not receive the support they need to improve their opportunities and meet their aspirations – simply for not living in the right area.  Using this evidence I am working hard with all the Directors to look out how we can improve services that support people across the city both in areas where evidence shows that people are experiencing multiple disadvantage but also those in the smaller pockets of deprivation throughout the city.

 

The future is about ensuring that households and individuals experiencing inequality, wherever they may be in the city, have access to appropriate services and opportunities.  This is even more important in the current economic climate.  In this time of financial difficulty this is not an easy task and I urge my colleagues of all parties to work with me and my Cabinet Members on ensuring that services are reaching all those who need them.  This Administration is committed to helping both people and places.”

 

35.30    Councillor Morgan asked a supplementary question, “Will the Cabinet Member for Community Affairs explain how communities in areas consistently identified as the most deprived in the city, such as Whitehawk, Tarner and Moulsecoomb can seek support from the council under her People Not Places Policy and whether she stands by the description of residents of those areas in a recent council report as ‘the usual suspects’?”

 

35.31    Councillor Simson replied, “This Administration is fully committed to reducing inequalities for all residents in this city no matter where they live.  The reducing inequalities review showed that we have people who need additional services in all parts of the city not just in areas like Whitehawk and Tarner that had previously been targeted. 

 

What Councillor Morgan seems to forget is that it was his Labour Government that withdrew the support for neighbourhood renewal and a range of other funding streams and it was the previous Administration who cut city-wide community development provision out of the mainstream budget and then patched the gap with time-limited funding, a very short-sighted approach.  Instead of stopping this kind of neighbourhood support and abruptly walking away from the communities, it was this Conservative Administration who committed to once more put people in their communities all over the city back into the heart of everything we do to do all we can to deal with inequalities across the whole city. 

 

We are doing this in a carefully managed way by using smarter, more effective means, not by throwing money at it which gives little added value but by bringing it back as part of the council’s core service which is where it should always have been and we are already seeing the benefits of this by the excellent relationships we are building with all sections of the community. 

 

We are currently working very closely with senior managers in the council to consider the total council budget for next year and as part of this the funding for future neighbourhood support, and I am hoping to make an announcement in the near future on funding for this area of work, but let me assure you that wherever possible we are committed to keeping those things that are working going and, of course, completing commitments to things like the Tarner and Eastern Road Charter. 

 

I do want to say though that we are committed once again to all areas of the city.  Obviously areas that have more deprivation, if we are looking at people, are going to have more people in that area that are going to need services so there will probably be more money going into those areas but we are committed to looking at both people and places.”

 

35.32    Councillor Duncan asked a further supplementary question, “Councillor Simson will know that a wide range of residents and community groups are tackling issues such as health, community safety and domestic violence in the deprived Tarner and Eastern Road areas, a service still supported by the Neighbourhood Management Team thanks to area based funding. 

 

Notwithstanding her previous answer can she give us a solid assurance today that no such group or sub-group will face closure as a result of this Council’s approach to area based funding in the coming financial year?”

 

35.33    Councillor Simson replied, “As I previously stated we are going to be looking at all areas of the city and looking at where the funding is most needed and that is where we will be targeting it.”

 

35.34    (g) Councillor Carden asked:

 

“Would the Cabinet Member for Environment say what this council is doing to stop the abuse of fraudulent blue badge users from parking in disabled bays in Brighton and Hove?”

 

35.35    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“The city council's Parking Enforcement Team is working with Sussex Police to tackle blue badge abuse in the streets of Brighton & Hove as part of 'Operation Bluebird'.  Operation Bluebird is an ongoing joint exercise, which has resulted in the confiscation of about 40 blue badges so far this year.  The council has a good record of prosecuting offenders with fines and costs averaging £600 per offence.  Only police officers can legally confiscate a blue badge, which is why we have adopted this joint approach.

 

Since November 2007 the council’s Parking Attendants, now called Civil Enforcement Officers, have used new legal powers to inspect blue badges, and police officers and Civil Enforcement Officers now check blue badges as part of their routine patrols.”

 

35.36    Councillor Carden asked a supplementary question, “Having met recently with local police officers in Portslade they have highlighted the increasing problem of blue badge theft and fraud in the Ward.

 

Would the Cabinet Member for Environment say what this council is doing to protect blue badge users and disabled drivers from receiving Penalty Charge Notices when their displayed discs are stolen and in order to limit the distress and financial implications on those that have had their blue badges stolen, would he be prepared to look into a way forward to register or distinguish such cars of disabled drivers?”

 

35.37    Councillor Theobald replied, “We are always looking at ways to protect the disabled and if there is anything that we can do to try and help in that connection we will try and do that and so I am very happy to look into it.”

 

35.38    Councillor Pidgeon asked a further supplementary question, “Can Councillor Theobald tell me how many awards for helping people with disabilities has the Council won since this Administration came into office?”

 

35.39    Councillor Theobald replied, “The Council are aware of the fact that I keep coming up and collecting awards.  We have won awards for talking bus stops, raising pavements and with our buddying scheme, a number of awards.”

 

35.40    (h) Councillor Meadows asked:

 

“Could the Cabinet Member for Central Services say what actions the council is undertaking to find a more suitable location for Kingsplan Limited, who have been seeking a more appropriate site?”

 

35.41    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied:

 

“The city council has provided information on potential sites that could accommodate this business operation together with providing information with regards to the Commercial Property Database that the city council provides in partnership with the local commercial agents.”

 

35.42    Councillor Meadows asked a supplementary question, “Many local residents have complained about the number of large lorries and I know Kingspan have been requesting a larger, more suitable site.

 

As you have stated several waste sites identified in the Local Plan would be useful, unless of course you are going to use them for a winter wonderland theme park.  When will Kingspan and concerned residents be told a suitable site will be found and when will the Cabinet Member confirm these findings will be made available to the public?”

 

35.43    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied, “As we all know Kingspan are an independent waste recycling company who own a site in East Brighton that they wish to dispose of and use their capital to invest in larger waste facilities.  As such the council is under no obligation to find a more suitable location for Kingspan as the company would be going to the market independently as any business would in the circumstances.

 

Economic Development and Property have, however, provided Kingspan with information regarding potential sites plus information from the council’s city commercial property database. 

 

Planning have provided informal advice to Kingspan regarding potential uses of their current site and have suggested that their next step is to have a formal pre-application discussion with the Planning Team.  Their site has an employment use allocation, so any potential use will include this.”

 

35.44    Councillor Mrs Norman asked a further supplementary question, “Would the Cabinet Member agree that each application of this kind should be considered on its own merits?”

 

35.45    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied, “Yes, we believe that to be the case and we will always believe that every case should be taken on its merits.”

 

35.46    (i) Councillor Hamilton asked:

 

“The Conservative Administration has pledged to keep council tax increases in line with or below inflation, and is working towards a 3.5% increase for 2009-10.  If, as now seems possible, inflation drops below 3.5% by the end of the council's financial year, could the Cabinet Member for Finance promise to reduce the council tax increase accordingly?"

 

35.47    Councillor Young replied:

 

“The Administration’s budget is being prepared in an unprecedented financial climate which changes daily and is hitting the city and its people hard.  Our approach to this budget is based on getting basic services right and improving value for money.  With inflation at 5% in September and 4.2% in October, the council tax rise of 3.5% for next year does meet our pledge.  Inflation may go down but it may then also go back up again particularly in such volatile times.

 

What this Administration is absolutely clear about is that the council’s finances are planned sensibly.  This means formulating a budget well in advance of the next financial year and taking a view on inflation around this time.  The government itself does this for a number of purposes, taking inflation into account in September, which as I have said stood at 5%.  Once we have formulated our budget there is a proper democratic process within the council including the Overview and Scrutiny Commission in February – open and transparent government is something this Administration values.  Councillors will also be aware that we are consulting with stakeholders about the budget.  The Administration also needs to give clear political leadership so that officers can prepare in advance for the changes arising from the budget.  For all these reasons it is neither sensible nor practical to keep changing the budget right up to the statutory deadline of 10 March.”

 

35.48    Councillor Hamilton asked a supplementary question, “With regard to the first answer, I am interested to know that because inflation was 5% in September, anything that’s put on council tax next April that’s less than 5% will be regarded as less than inflation. 

 

My question is: the council tax year runs from April 1 until March 31 and it is inflation over that period that is the relevant figure, not the figure in September.  From April 1 2007 to April 1 2008 the RPI rate of inflation was 3.8%.  Since the council tax figure for 2008 increased by over 3.9%, compared with the 2007 figure, do you agree that Council Leader, Councillor Mary Mears, was wrong to claim in the Argus last week that this year’s council tax increase was below the rate of inflation?”

 

35.49    Councillor Young replied, “We are in a rapidly alternating situation and I will need to keep a close eye on the changes right up until preparation of the final budget but as you are aware it needs to go through Overview & Scrutiny and it needs to go to the Cabinet and then to full Council, so I can’t keep changing our figures to match what is going on right up until the presentation.”

 

35.50    Councillor Mitchell asked a further supplementary question, “As the 3.5% increase in council tax proposed by the Conservative Administration only applies to the council tax precept set by the City Council, could Councillor Young confirm that this would represent an increase of just under £42 on a Band D property and not the £48 claimed by Council Leader, Mary Mears, in the Argus this week.”

 

35.51    Councillor Young replied, “I will get back to you on that one.”

 

35.52    (j) Councillor Simpson asked:

 

“Could the Cabinet Member for Housing please reconfirm her public commitment to not cut frontline services, especially day centres across the city?”

 

35.53    Councillor Caulfield replied:

 

“As stated at the last Cabinet Member Meeting for Housing, this Administration is absolutely committed to supporting front line services.  As a council we have to constantly look at how we use our resources to ensure that we are providing the best possible services for residents in this city and this may mean changes to the way we provide our services but it does not mean cuts.

 

If you look at the learning disability services we provide you can see that we are actually looking to increase and expand our day services by introducing the day options team while still retaining our day centres.”

 

35.54    Councillor Simpson asked a supplementary question, “Could the Cabinet Member confirm that the Buckingham Road and Belgrave Day Centres will remain open?”

 

35.55    Councillor Caulfield replied, “As I have said in the Cabinet Member’s meeting and I think I was very clear at that meeting, this Conservative Administration is not about closing day centres for people with learning disabilities.  Certainly the Belgrave Day Centre there are definitely no plans to close it.  The Buckingham Road Day Centre, as I did say at the Cabinet Member’s meeting, there are physical problems with that building that we need to explore with both service users and staff and family members but as yet there has been no decision to change the use at Buckingham Road.

 

What you need to appreciate, and I don’t know if you have been to Buckingham Road Day Centre, Mr Mayor or Councillor Simpson, but it is a very difficult building for service users to access and we are not able to offer a service to all people that would like to use that service. 

 

In addition people with learning disabilities need rooms where they can have space.  There is only one sensory room at Buckingham Road and the rooms that are available are large and the staff have to look after all the service users in big large rooms which are not really suitable for people with learning disabilities that often need one-to-one care. 

 

I don’t know what the future will be for Buckingham Road because there are physical issues there but day centres as a whole, including Belgrave, will not be closing under this Administration, and I have to say as I did say at my Cabinet Member’s meeting, that this constant questioning is distressing to both the service users, the staff and the carers and relatives of these people.  I don’t know how much clearer I can be.  We are extending day centre services for people with learning disabilities, not closing them.”

 

35.56    Councillor Lepper asked a further supplementary question, “Could the Cabinet Member tell us if any other Member of her Conservative Administration will be closing day centres for older people and those with physical disabilities?”

 

35.57    Councillor Caulfield replied, “Obviously I cannot speak on behalf of another Cabinet Member but what I can say is this Conservative Administration has made a promise that there won’t be cuts to frontline services, so I would suggest that you ask the question about the other portfolio holder’s portfolio to the relevant Cabinet Member but I can say that frontline services are safe in the hands of this Conservative Council.”

 

35.58    (k) Councillor Mitchell asked:

 

“Following the inspection that was made in East Brighton Park, could the Cabinet Member for Environment tell us what were the results of the inspection and the costs of damage to the cricket pitch?”

 

35.59    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“Fortunately on this occasion the damage is superficial and out of the cricket season so there are no direct costs.  We have, however, reinforced the bunds around the cricket pitch which cost approximately £50.”

 

35.60    Councillor Mitchell asked a supplementary question, “I would like to ask Councillor Theobald if he could confirm whether East Brighton Park is regularly patrolled by existing or the new Park Rangers and if so why this anti-social behaviour was allowed to happen?”

 

35.61    Councillor Theobald replied, “We have introduced more Park Rangers, we did that last year, in our budget last time round.  They started in August, extra Park Rangers for our parks.  Obviously they do not patrol 24 hours a day and consequently, if somebody is to affect one of our parks at 3 o’clock in the morning it is difficult but I can assure Councillor Mitchell that everything possible is being done.  That is why we put more money in our budget and that is why we are employing more Park Rangers to endeavour to make sure that our parks are there and are able to be used by all of our communities.”

 

35.62    (l) Councillor Hawked asked:

 

“Could the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People update us on the council’s progress on the “Adding Up” campaign which agreed to look into ways of easing the impact of school costs on low income families?” 

 

35.63    Councillor Mrs Brown replied:

 

“The council is aware of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau campaign which aims to get schools to adopt best practice with regard to supporting needy families with the cost of school trips, uniform, specialist equipment etc.  The campaign is also trying to make it compulsory in law for all LA’s to provide uniform grants.  At present the council does not provide funding to support parents with school uniforms or other potential pupil costs.  Funding is available in the city to needy families through some charities.

 

All schools are encouraged to make uniforms as accessible as possible to all families by identifying uniform items that can be purchased cheaply through supermarkets and their own school shops.  Many schools provide second-hand uniform shops.  Schools also fulfil the strict criteria related to school trips ensuring that compulsory and essential educational visits are made available to all students regardless of their ability to pay.

 

I have asked officers to prepare a paper for my Cabinet Member Meeting in the New Year which outlines the potential costs and practicalities of adopting the aims of the CAB Adding Up Campaign.”

 

35.64    Councillor Hawkes asked a supplementary question, “Could Councillor Brown confirm that she will be bringing forward the report that was agreed at the last Council to a meeting of the CYPT Board setting out the council’s approach to working with schools to ensure that families are informed of the support available?  In particular, how the LEA will achieve compliance with the new Admissions Code in relation to keeping school costs low and explore the provisions of an appropriate sum within the 2009/2010 budget?”

 

35.65    Councillor Mrs Brown replied, “We will be looking at all the options and we will be bringing a full paper in, in the New Year.”

 

35.66    Councillor Older asked a further supplementary question, “I was interested in reading the response from Councillor Brown and I noticed the bit about the grants for uniforms.  Can the Cabinet Member tell us when the school uniform grant in Brighton and Hove was stopped?  I seem to remember that Labour were in control of the Council then, can she confirm it please?”

 

35.67    Councillor Mrs Brown replied, “Both Brighton and Hove used to provide a very small amount of money to help with uniform costs but I believe it was in 1997 when Brighton and Hove became a Unitary Authority that the then Labour Administration removed the uniform grant facility, saying it was too complicated to deliver fairly.”

 

35.68    (m) Councillor Wells asked:

 

“Can the Cabinet Member for Central Services tell me what the council is doing to tackle benefit fraud in Brighton & Hove?”

 

35.69    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied:

 

“The council only administer housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB).  However, the council’s benefit service acts in conjunction with the Internal Audit section, Job Centre Plus, the Pension Service, the Police and other agencies to tackle fraud across the welfare benefit system and sometimes beyond.  There are two main elements to dealing with benefit fraud; prevention and detection.

 

In terms of prevention our benefit service adheres to a strict series of guidelines to check the validity of benefit claims, both when a claim is first made and during the lifetime of a claim.  Both HB and CTB are means tested benefits so these checks necessarily mean looking closely at proofs of income/capital as well as the validity of tenancies and occupation.  This work is done efficiently so genuine claimants are paid promptly.  Most customers with fraudulent intent are stopped at this stage without any payment being made.

 

In addition to the ongoing preventative work the Benefit Service has a team of ten that concentrates solely on fraud detection.  As well as investigating tip-offs from the public, staff, Councillors, an increasing proportion of their work follows up on sophisticated computer sweeps that identify potential problems.  In conducting their investigations and in conducting visits, surveillances and interviews officers adhere to similar guidelines to the police.

 

In 2007/2008 the council successfully prosecuted 34 customers and applied 107 other sanctions.  These are a very positive set of results that compare well with other councils.”

 

35.70    Councillor Wells asked a supplementary question, “We have had some high profile and very successful prosecutions of fraudsters of late.  Could the Councillor tell me if there are any more high profile cases pending?”

 

35.71    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied, “The Benefit Fraud Team consists of nine investigators, one Clerical Officer and a Team Leader and information comes from numerous sources, the main ones being the general public, council officers and data matching in the form of the housing benefit matching service and national fraud initiative.  This is an area where I am particularly excited about the progress that we have been making.  The Team in Customer Services have been fantastic.  One of our five political priorities is to make better use of public money.  One of the ways to achieve that is to get back money that is rightfully due to the council.  The council tax payers pay it and it has been fraudulently taken by members of our society.

 

The Investigators all complete professionalism and security training called PINS. 

 

In the last 18 months we have had to look at 1,661 cases.  There are three sanctions available to use: formal caution and in the last 18 months 110 people have been issued with a formal caution; an administrative penalty and in the last 18 months 59 people have been given administrative penalties and prosecution and this is usually a sanction that is applied in cases where there is a large over?payment, where there is a previous sanction or evidence of extreme dishonesty.  In the last 18 months 52 people have been successfully prosecuted and another 35 cases are currently awaiting prosecution.

 

I am just going to touch on the method of investigation before I touch on a couple of cases just to answer.

 

The Benefit Fraud Team has numerous investigation techniques at their disposal.  Employers and landlords can be approached to obtain information that is required which they are obliged to give under Section 111 of the Social Security Administration Act and this Act can also be used to obtain information from banks, building societies, insurance companies, schools, utility providers and credit checking agencies.  Using the Data Protection Act information can be requested from any source, however there is no obligation on the source to provide it.”

 

35.72    (n) Councillor Mitchell asked:

 

"Will Councillor Fallon-Khan please say how much the renting of the 52 concrete blocks placed at the foot of the historic Kemp Town slopes alongside the existing barrier of wooden posts has cost the council to date?"

 

35.73    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied:

 

“Concrete barriers were placed alongside the wooden posts to fortify the existing barrier at the Kemp Town slopes to stop illegal incursions that had been previously experienced.  The barriers have cost £5,545 to date and this cost includes the installation and the eventual removal of the barriers.  The council was made aware that travellers who were being moved on from other sites in the city might attempt to access the Kemp Town slopes which had been used previously on a number of occasions by travellers.  The council took action by laying the barriers which allow for public access to the area whilst also potentially saving on the expenses associated with moving travellers and clearing up the site.

 

The council is currently investigating a more permanent and appropriately designed solution in the form of iron bollards that match the existing bollards in the area.  The estimated cost of this will be in the region of £20,000 to £30,000 and a bid has been made to secure funding for next year.”

 

35.74    Councillor Mitchell asked a supplementary question, “I thank Councillor Fallon-Khan for stating that city residents have so far paid £5,500 for these particular concrete blocks.  In the interests of value for money that he has just referred to, bearing in mind that the cost of removing traveller vehicles for that specific area was £1,700 for the past year, can Councillor Fallon?Khan say for how much longer the city’s tax payers will be carrying on renting these concrete blocks?”

 

35.75    Councillor Fallon-Khan replied, “I will respond to Councillor Mitchell in writing.”

 

 

35.76    (o) Councillor Mitchell asked:

 

"Will Councillor Geoffrey Theobald please state the cost of the additional crews brought in to remove uncollected refuse since October 6^th during the current service disruption?"

 

35.77    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“There is no additional cost on the service budget because it does not include for the reduction in crews in this financial year on the basis that the savings, that have been made thus far, would be needed in the short term to settle in the changes.  In the next financial year the savings from these changes (including recycling and communal bins) will be just under £1m per annum.”

 

35.78     Councillor Mitchell asked a supplementary question, “Bearing in mind that several areas in my Ward and in others across the city are still experiencing some disruption with their refuse collections, does Councillor Theobald still stick to his promise that all of these problems will be resolved within the next three weeks and the new rounds are entirely workable? 

 

Can he also say why he was not able to do as I asked and to separate out the amount that has been spent on weekend working crews, and I do accept that it is part of the overall budget, but what I was actually asking was for the separated out amount that has gone towards crews working on Saturdays in order to catch up?”

 

35.79    Councillor Theobald replied, “We don’t have a way of separating that out and I would have thought that Councillor Mitchell would know that in our particular budget we budget for a particular amount. 

 

As to the other issue that Councillor Mitchell referred to, obviously we wish to get this service running properly at the earliest possible date and we have pledged to endeavour to do that as soon as possible.”

 

35.80    Councillor Mrs Theobald asked a further supplementary question, “Does the Cabinet Member agree that the introduction of communal bins across the city will all but remove the problem of black bags spilling upon our streets and should be welcomed?”

 

35.81    Councillor Theobald replied, “Yes.”

 

35.82    (p) Councillor Barnett asked:

 

“What action is the council and its partners taking to tackle the problem of drugs in our city?”

 

 

 

35.83    Councillor Simson replied:

 

“Thank you very much for this question as it is an opportunity to confirm the positive work that is underway across the city led by the council and it’s partners.  Reducing and preventing drug related harm remains both a national and local priority and tackling illicit drugs misuse is one of the priorities identified in the Brighton and Hove Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy.

 

As well as the national focus on reducing both the supply of and the demand for illicit drugs, we and our partners have work underway to address the challenges of protecting communities through robust enforcement; preventing harm to children young people and families; delivering new approaches to drug treatment and social reintegration; and public information campaigns, communication and community engagement.

 

Whilst all the key actions are detailed in our Strategy, which is extremely comprehensive, I can pick out some areas of focus and challenge for the next three years.   For young people and families there will be a continuing focus on supporting the children of drug misusing parents and carers.  We will continue to work with communities through local audits aiming at both assisting local populations to reduce local concerns and providing targeted support.

 

Partners are reviewing treatment services in order to deliver more effective and economical treatment and we will be sustaining enforcement activity, looking to make further improvements in intelligence and reporting in local communities.  Illicit drug misuse has a direct impact on the lives of those who use drugs, their families and local communities and we all remain committed to tackling its impact.”

 

35.84    Councillor McCaffery asked a supplementary question, “I welcome the work of the Conservative Administration to tackle drug misuse in this city and feel it is very important.  I also welcome the fact that in your statement you note that it is a priority.  I am therefore rather puzzled as to why in the last budget you voted to reduce the funding to substance misuse in the city as indeed part of the budget, perhaps you could explain that?”

 

35.85    Councillor Simson replied, “The funding you are referring to I believe is national funding that was actually cut by your Government.”

 

35.86    (q) Councillor Steedman asked:

 

“Earlier this year, Councillor Mears signed up to the Eastern Road Area Charter, personally committing the Administration to working with local councillors, the police, the PCT and local residents to meet certain service standards and to deliver a better quality of life for all, through partnership working.  Could Councillor Mears confirm that she and her Administration are still fully committed to meeting the commitments, standards and actions agreed in the Charter?”

 

35.87    Councillor Mears replied:

 

“Yes.”

 

35.88    Councillor Steedman asked a supplementary question, “I would like to thank Councillor Mears for her full and expansive response, and in that case, Mr Mayor, and especially given the intense interest of the Department for Communities & Local Government and also the Government Office for the South East, will Councillor Mears guarantee funding to support the Eastern Road Area Partnership for the forthcoming financial year in order to fulfil all the requirements of this national pathfinder programme?”

 

35.89    Councillor Mears replied, “As you know this authority is part of the national pilot programme to test the effectiveness of neighbourhood charters to improve service provision and quality of life.

 

The Eastern Road Charter has been developed by partners with the support of the Neighbourhood Management Team over the past ten months and which was launched in June 2008.  This has produced an excellent document which local residents and partners are already using to improve the delivery and co-ordination of local services, for example ensuring local access to services for older people in the area.

 

The Charter is an excellent example of residents, service providers and elected Members working together to meet local priorities.  I and my Administration are committed to partnership working and I trust that our joint work in this area will continue to be positive and focus on local needs and reducing inequalities across the city.

 

To go on to Councillor Steedman’s question, yes Councillor Steedman this Administration is committed to working in partnership across the city.  As you know the Government is cutting funding severely which makes it very difficult.  That is why I was very surprised with the previous Administration’s questions today when they go on about council tax, particularly as they had raised council tax in their Administration time to 124% over eleven years, especially in the year 2003/2004 when it was 14.5%.  I can assure you this Administration believes in value for money and we will ensure that we work with partners, with you Councillor Steedman in your area, to provide an excellent community service.”

 

35.90    Councillor Simson asked a further supplementary question, “Could I ask the Leader of the Council if she is aware that I am actually meeting with both the Eastern Road Partnership and the Tarner Partnership next week to discuss future support for these resident-led partnerships, the neighbourhood charter and the continued reduction of inequalities which many people in these areas have to live with?”

 

35.91    Councillor Mears replied, “Absolutely and you are absolutely right.  I would like to point out, just a statistic from working in partnership, particularly in the Tarner area that Carlton Hill Primary School located in the middle of the Tarner area has seen an impressive turn-around in its stats results.  In 2004 the school was achieving a 48% pass in Key Stage 2 Level 4 in English.  Just last year it has achieved a 100% pass rate at this level.  Similarly, it had a 30% pass rate at Key Stage 2 Level 4 in Maths in 2004 which recently rose to 92.3%.

 

Yes, Councillor Simson, I know you are having these meetings and I recognise all the hard work you are doing within the partnerships.”

 

35.92    (r) Councillor Steedman asked:

 

“Could Councillor Geoffrey Theobald confirm that a scheme for a new cycle route between the Pier and the Marina will be put in place at the soonest possible opportunity?”

 

35.93    Councillor Theobald replied:

 

“Yes, subject to consultation with the public, including the cycle forum and cycle groups.”

 

35.94    Councillor Steedman asked a supplementary question, “On this particular question, as we heard in the earlier petition this is a vital part of the national South Coast Cycle Route and it is shameful that it has been left for all this time as one of the most conspicuous gaps in that route.  It would create a valuable link to the Marina which is desperately in need of better links to the city.

 

Could Councillor Theobald explain why, given that we were promised completion of the scheme before the end of the financial year, it has been so delayed and could he guarantee that the funds for its construction will be rolled over to the next financial year to ensure that it is actually built?”

 

35.95    Councillor Theobald replied, “Yes, to the last part.  As I have said to an earlier question we took over from an Administration 15 months ago, an enormous amount to sort out from the past Administration and we are gradually doing it and very successfully.”