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 to the full Council or at the meeting itself.

(b)          Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 June 2016.

i)          Christopher Hawtree – Hove Carnegie Library

ii)         NinkaWillcox – Hove Carnegie Library

(c)          Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 June 2016.

i)          Abbie Kirkby – Public Space Protection Orders from the Friends, Families and Travellers Group

              Public Questions

5.1         The Chair noted that the two public questions that related to Item 7 Development of Library Services in Hove and Hollingbury, would be taken with the consideration of that item.

              Deputations

5.2         The Chair noted there was one deputation concerning Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) from the Friends, Families and Travellers Group. He called forward Gareth Fisher to present the deputation.

5.3         Mr Fisher stated;

‘I would like to thank all concerned for inviting me to speak this afternoon on the public space protection order (PSPO) as it pertains to gypsies, travellers and unauthorised encampments. This affects me directly as I too live in a vehicle. I would like to think most if not all of you have been made aware of and read the response of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to the Brighton & Hove City Council’s consultation on the public spaces protection orders in city parks and open spaces. All of it is invaluable reading as is section 11 on human rights law and section 21 which plainly states that the PSPO will not address the root cause of unauthorised encampments but will instead subject gypsies and travellers who wish to pursue a traditional nomadic lifestyle to a criminal sanction.

Though-out history there has been a distain and almost fervent, euphoric hatred of Gypsy, Romani, Kale, Welsh and Scottish traveling communities portrayed by the state and in contemporary literature as pseudo-vagrants, criminals and the dispossessed underclass; themes which exist to this day. The first such law aimed explicitly against these new travellers of the time was Henry VIII’s proclamation of 1530 aimed at spreading fear, marginalisation and racial hatred towards them. In 1553 Queen Mary passed the Egyptians Act which decreed that the death penalty be imposed on anyone who was a Gypsy or anyone who befriended one, that particular offence stayed on the statute books of this country for well over 2 centuries.

Well into the 19^th Century the persecution of the Gypsy Travelling people at large. In Holland Gypsy hunts were organised where not only was it an offence to be a gypsy, it was perfectly legal to hunt them down and kill them. The Nazi Holocaust provides the clearest example of how the articulation of this ancient hatred of nomads became legislation and was translated into a government sanctioned policy of racial hygiene. ½ million men, woman and children lost their lives precisely because they were Gypsies. 31 years ago this month on the 1 June 1985 in Wiltshire some 1,300 police attacked 600 travellers in a peace convoy. It was an organised ambush by the police with paramilitary style planning. The Travellers had not committed any crime and were following directions from the police force. The Travellers homes were invaded and smashed, vehicles were damaged, pregnant women and those with babies were mercilessly truncheoned by the police who were hitting anyone they could within reach.

In 1994 the Criminal Justice and Public Order (CJPO) Act was introduced by the then Conservative government, a draconian piece of legislation that attracted widespread opposition. Some noted on the legislation in bill form that it was about politicians making laws on the basis of judging people’s lifestyles and therefore no basis to form a law. As the Equality and Human Rights Commission states there are through CJPO 1994 sufficient acts and statutes to deal with unauthorised encampments on public authority land and private land. Section 77, 78, part 55, section 62a and 61 and gives those accused of infringements of those acts a basic recourse to the law, PSPO does not. The proposed public spaces protection order is discriminatory, racist and infringes on article 3, 13 and 14 of the universal declaration of human rights.

This seems all quite heavy stuff folks and it is but there is a light amounts’ this darkness of all this history and persecution, there may not be much light but it is a light. You have a wonderful opportunity to say no to the PSPO order and go forward into the future and not to regress into repressive legislation of history. Look with better eyes at the homeless on our streets, be more liberal with your support of diverse life styles and cultures; act with compassion and love and not with further condemnation and persecution. Let Brighton stand out as a shining example of an open libertarian and radical thinking governance and who we share it with. You could lead the way into the support of low impact living, the carbon footprint of living in a vehicle is minimal compared to that of living in a house. With solar voltaic panels and wind turbine power there would be less demand on precious resources that could be diverted elsewhere. You’d be helping set an example of truly radical alternative living, environmental balance, little cost to an already over stretched budgets. Let not the history books in your name read ‘first they came for the Gypsies and it started in Brighton’ you may choose what you wish. Thank you for listening.’

5.4         The Chair provided the following response; ‘Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced by the Government in 2014 to give councils and the police more powers to reduce antisocial behaviour in specified locations. We have been consulting on whether to pilot these orders at sensitive sites, including some parks and areas of the seafront, where antisocial behaviour is known to be an issue.

PSPOs do not target any specific group of people. When introduced, they impose conditions on the use of an area that apply to everyone. This helps authorities deal with particular nuisances or problems that are affecting the local community’s quality of life in that area. Once in place they remain in force for a maximum of three years.

We have seen the distress caused by criminal and environmental damage as a result of activities such as driving large vehicles onto grass and fly tipping. We have wonderful parks and we want to ensure everyone has access to them without being spoilt by a minority. Public Space Protection Orders could be a useful addition to the work we already do to keep parks clean and safe.

Brighton & Hove is a tolerant and welcoming city but it is not somewhere people can expect to behave in ways that have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of residents.

The council is currently compiling the results of the public consultation and a report is planned for the July meeting of the Policy, Resources and Growth Committee.”

5.5         RESOLVED – That the Committee note the deputation.

5.6         The Chair noted there were no other matters listed under Public Involvement.