Agenda item - Allotments: response to Notice of Motion

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)             That Environment, Transport & Sustainability note the response to the Notice of Motion.

2)             That the Committee calls for officers to meet with Brighton & Hove Allotment Federation (BHAF) to address the concerns they have raised and to review the BHAF’s outline business case.

3)             That the Committee calls for a further report that includes the findings of BHAF’s business case with particular attention to the health and wellbeing, cost benefits, sustainability and the delivery of the Council’s vision outlined in the corporate plan, with the scope of the report agreed with BHAF before work commences.

4)             That the Committee calls for officers to examine the potential use of land either side of Tenantry Down Road near the junction of Bear Road for allotments; potentially delivering another 10 full or 20 half size plots; and reports back on these together with the sites at West Hove and Rottingdean that were previously proposed for use as allotments.

5)             That the Committee notes that that many plots are in a poor state and that the report highlights that 249 plots are vacant; and

6)             That the Committee calls for an Officer Report detailing emergency measures to let empty plots.

75.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that responded to the committee request to receive a report on allotments agreed at its meeting on 21 September 2021.

Note: Councillor Nemeth and Councillor Wilkinson left the Council Chamber during discussion of the item due to their declared pecuniary interest.

75.2      Councillor Platts moved a motion to add recommendations as shown in bold italics below:

2.2   That the Committee calls for officers to meet with Brighton & Hove Allotment Federation (BHAF) to address the concerns they have raised and to review the BHAF’s outline business case.

2.3   That the Committee calls for a further report that includes the findings of BHAF’s business case with particular attention to the health and wellbeing, cost benefits, sustainability and the delivery of the Council’s vision outlined in the corporate plan, with the scope of the report agreed with BHAF before work commences.

2.4   That the Committee calls for officers to examine the potential use of land either side of Tenantry Down Road near the junction of Bear Road for   allotments; potentially delivering another 10 full or 20 half size plots; and reports back on these together with the sites at West Hove and Rottingdean that were previously proposed for use as allotments.

75.3      Councillor Fowler formally seconded the motion.

75.4      Councillor Bagaeen moved a motion to add recommendations as shown in bold italics below:

2.2     That the Committee notes that that many plots are in a poor state and that the report highlights that 249 plots are vacant; and

2.3  That the Committee calls for an Officer Report detailing emergency measures to let empty plots.

75.5      Councillor Davis formally seconded the motion.

75.6      In response to a question from Councillor Bagaeen, the Head of Operations - City Parks clarified that there had been a significant increase in demand for allotments nationwide in recent years. Brighton & Hove’s currently waiting list of 2785 was high but not the highest it had ever been.

75.7      The Chair then put the motion proposed by Councillor Platts to the vote that passed.

75.8      The Chair then put the motion proposed by Councillor Bagaeen to the vote that passed.

75.9      The Chair then put the recommendations as amended to the vote that were agreed.

75.10   Resolved-

1)             That Environment, Transport & Sustainability note the response to the Notice of Motion.

2)             That the Committee calls for officers to meet with Brighton & Hove Allotment Federation (BHAF) to address the concerns they have raised and to review the BHAF’s outline business case.

3)             That the Committee calls for a further report that includes the findings of BHAF’s business case with particular attention to the health and wellbeing, cost benefits, sustainability and the delivery of the Council’s vision outlined in the corporate plan, with the scope of the report agreed with BHAF before work commences.

4)             That the Committee calls for officers to examine the potential use of land either side of Tenantry Down Road near the junction of Bear Road for allotments; potentially delivering another 10 full or 20 half size plots; and reports back on these together with the sites at West Hove and Rottingdean that were previously proposed for use as allotments.

5)             That the Committee notes that that many plots are in a poor state and that the report highlights that 249 plots are vacant; and

6)             That the Committee calls for an Officer Report detailing emergency measures to let empty plots.