Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

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

(b)           Written Questions: To receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 12 January 2023;

(c)           Deputations: To receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 12 January 2023.

42.1 The Chair invited Mark Strong to ask the question which can be found on page 5 of Addendum 1.

42.2 The Chair gave the following response:

The purpose of the Character Statement is to define the special architectural or historic interest of the College Conservation Area as a whole. This will help inform and assist the protection and enhancement of the conservation area.  

A commitment was made in the council’s Conservation Area Strategy, approved 2015, to prepare a Character Statement for the College Conservation Area. This is considered good practice and is supported by legislation, national and local planning policies. This is the last of the city’s 33 Conservation Areas to have a character statement prepared. The statement does not confer any undue influence Brighton College or any other organisation or individual. Its purpose is to help assess the design and heritage aspects of future development proposals affecting any part of the Conservation Area.  

In terms of the Conservation Area name, the College Conservation Area was designated in 1988 under the Civic Amenities Act. We presume the name was given to the Conservation Area because of the historic significance of the listed buildings owned by Brighton College. A change to the name could be considered through a future review of the Conservation Area. This is something that the council is able to consider as part of a review of its 2015 Conservation Strategy.   

As indicated in the report to be heard later in this meeting, local residents, through the consultation process, did raise concerns regarding anti-social parking, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and coach parking associated with the operation of the school. These matters fall outside the remit of the Character Statement. However, officers have informed the BHCC parking strategy team of parking and that team are in liaison with the college to help address these matters. Local councillors have also agreed to meet with local residents to assist in addressing these issues. 

42.3 Mark Strong asked the following supplementary question:

Two thirds of the responses disagreed with the character statement, probably due to the feeling, and that the Council is bound by what the law says and history about naming, and the the level of upset is related to the feeling that the college has undue influence locally, and a naming change would help wage that feeling. Mark also requested to be present at any meetings with Brighton college as a resident.

42.4 Cllr Robins confirmed that other local ward Councillors would be keen to take the issue forward.