Subject:

Madeira Drive - Petitions for Debate

Date of Meeting:

23 July 2020

Report of:

Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law

Contact Officer:

Name:

Mark Wall

Tel:

01273 291006

 

E-mail:

mark.wall@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Wards Affected:

 

All

 

For General Release

 

 

1.      SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

 

1.1      Under the Council’s Petition Scheme if a petition contains more than 1,250 signatures and is not petition requesting officer evidence, it will be debated by the Full Council.

 

1.2      There are two conflicting e-petitions which have resulted in triggering a debate at the council meeting, having exceeded the threshold with a total of:

 

(a)  9,748 signatures confirmed at the time of printing the report in favour of re-opening Madeira Drive; and

(b)  2,884 signatures confirmed at the time of printing the report in favour of keeping Madeira Drive closed to traffic.

 

2.      RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

2.1      That the petitions are noted and referred to the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee for consideration.

 

3.       RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION / CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS:

         

3.1      The Petitions:

 

(i)     Re-open Madeira Drive

 

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to reopen Brighton's Madeira Drive to all users without further delay to save the businesses operating there, reinstate access for motorcyclists, scooterists, taxis and coaches, and enable visitor parking.

 

          Brighton and Hove has suffered enormous economic damage owing to lockdown and needs all the help it can get to recover.

 

          Lead Petitioner – Laura King

 

(ii)   Keep Madeira Drive Closed

 

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to extend the road closure of Madeira Drive for the rest of the year, since it provides crucial exercising space for local residents to use (whilst following social distancing) without the risk of road traffic accidents.

 

Since its closure to road traffic in April due to COVID-19, Madeira Drive has provided lots of additional safe space for walking and exercise and is always busy. There is plenty of road parking on Marine Parade, which is always empty.

 

          Lead Petitioner – Ian Ross

           

4.      PROCEDURE:

 

4.1      The petitions will be debated at the Council meeting in accordance with the agreed protocol:

         

(i)        The Lead petitioner for each petition will be invited by the Mayor to present the petition and will have up to 3 minutes in which to outline the prayer of the petition and confirm the number of signatures;

 

(ii)       The Mayor will then open the matter up for debate by councillors for period of 15 minutes and will first call on the relevant Committee Chair to respond to the petitions and move a proposed response.  The Mayor will then call on those councillors who have indicated a desire to speak in the matter, before calling on the relevant Committee Chair to respond to the debate;

 

(iii)      An amendment to the recommendation in paragraph 2.1 of the report or to add additional recommendations should be submitted by 10.00am on the day of the meeting; otherwise it will be subject to the Mayor’s discretion as to being appropriate.  Any such amendment will need to be formally moved and seconded at the meeting;

 

(iv)      After the 15 minutes set aside for the debate, the Mayor will then formally put:

 

(v)       (a) Any amendments in the order in which they are moved, and


(b) The substantive recommendation(s) as amended (if amended).