Agenda item - Member Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by Members:

(a)          Petitions: To receive any petitions referred from Full Council or submitted directly to the Committee;

(b)          Written Questions: To consider any written questions;

(i)           Royal Pavilion- Councillor Nemeth

(ii)          King Alfred- Councillor Nemeth

(iii)         Notice to Beach Hut Owners of Increased Fees- Councillor Nemeth

(iv)        Marlborough House- Councillor Nemeth

(v)          Sculpture Trail- Councillor Nemeth

(vi)        Hippodrome- Councillor Nemeth

(vii)       Planning Enforcement- Councillor Nemeth

(viii)      The Big Screen- Councillor Mears

(c)          Letters: To consider any letters;

(d)          Notices of Motion: to consider any Notices of Motion referred from Full Council or submitted directly to the Committee.

56.1    The Chair noted that eight questions from Members had been received and that the formal responses to the questions had been published in the addendum and invited supplementary questions.

(i)            Royal Pavilion – Councillor Nemeth

56.2    Councillor Nemeth thanked the Chair for his response and states he appreciated how difficult it had been to convey the risks to the Pavilion’s future and to win the support of staff. He encouraged the Chair to persevere with a cross party approach.

(ii)          King Alfred – Councillor Nemeth

56.3    Councillor Nemeth asked why no contract had yet been signed despite approval to commence with the development being given over two years ago.

56.4    On behalf of the Chair officers responded that terms of the contract where being clarified. It was expected that a final contract would be agreed in April 2018.

(iii)         Notice to Beach Hut owners of increased fees – Councillor Nemeth

56.5    Councillor Nemeth stated that he was pleased that the annual fee for Beach Huts had now been dropped and asked if the increased transfer fee was considered as an increased fee and that the increase should be cancelled as the licence fee had been. Moreover, as the “administration charge” had increased from £82 to well over £2000 did the Council recognise that charging over £2000 per hour for administrative work could not be justified.

56.7    On behalf of the Chair the Legal Adviser to the Committee stated that she would provide a written response to the question.

(iv)         Marlborough House – Councillor Nemeth

56.8    Councillor Nemeth asked that the Chair update the committee on any progress at the next meeting.

56.9    The Chair agreed to update the committee through his Chair’s Communications.

(v)          Sculpture Trail – Councillor Nemeth

56.10 Councillor Nemeth asked if the Chair would meet with himself and Councillor Peltzer Dunn as Wish Ward Councillors and the Chair of Hove Civic Society to provide an update on progress.

56.11  The Chair stated that he would be happy to meet with the Councillors and the Chair of Hove Civic Society to discuss the sculpture trail.

(vi)         Hippodrome – Councillor Nemeth

56.12  Councillor Nemeth asked that given the prominence of the Hippodrome and the current owner’s neglect did the Chair share his surprise that tougher enforcement action has not been taken.

56.13  The Chair responded that the council was currently in the process of contacting the owner which it had to do before enforcement action could go ahead.

(vii)       Planning Enforcement – Councillor Nemeth

56.14  Councillor Nemeth asked that the number of pending planning enforcement cases could be sent to him as these were not present in the answer.

56.15  The Chair confirmed that they would be.

56.16  Councillor Nemeth asked what had caused the number of cases solved per month to fall over the last six months.

56.17  Officers responded that there were peaks and troughs throughout the year and that these were caused by a number of factors.

(viii)      The Big Screen – Councillor Mears

56.18  Councillor Peltzer Dunn on behalf of Councillor Mears asked if a timetable of the consultation process which was detailed in the written response could be provided.

56.19  The Chair responded that a written answer would be sent to Councillor Mears.