Council

Agenda Item 27   

Date of meeting:    20 July 2023

BRIGHTON & HOVE INDEPENDENTS GROUP AMENDMENT

Restoring Madeira Terrace

That the relevant changes are made to the recommendations as shown below in strikethrough and bold italics:

This Council:

1. Notes the disappointment rightly felt by residents and campaign groups that restoration work on Madeira Terraces, one of the jewels in the crown of Brighton heritage, has yet again been delayed.

2. Acknowledges that postponing the work will lead to increased costs and put the restoration in jeopardy.

3. Apologises to residents and campaign groups for the delay.

4. Indicates its desire to commence work in Spring 2024, and to renovate all 151 arches.

5. Notes that the Madeira Terrace Advisory Group was not consulted on the recent decision to delay the restoration.

6.  Notes that a recent poll conducted by The Argus saw 64% of respondents preferring Madeira Terrace to be restored rather than Valley Gardens 3 proceed.

7. Notes the previous requests from residents for restoration of the existing Madeira Terrace lift and a bus route along Madeira Drive.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

8. Request regular updates on funding sought for the complete restoration of Madeira Terraces, and regular updates to residents on progress.

9. Requests an Officer report setting out where the funding is held, how it is held, what interest it is gaining, and how secure it is.

10. Request the Strategy, Finance and City Regeneration Committee agrees to:

(i) allocates a budget for a professional (external) fundraising consultant to identify and apply for grants and explore opportunities for investment from high net worth individuals and sponsorship opportunities.

(ii) Start an objective cross-party discussion about whether a commercially-led solution (akin to the arches by the i360) would be more successful in securing future grants, donations from HNWs and sponsorship.

(iii) Re-open the two structurally sound staircases which are completely closed and the two which are partly opened.

(iv) Re-paint, powerwash, litter pick and weed the staircases that are currently open.

(v) Re-allocate the c£2 million of BHCC money (not the loan or grant) set aside for Valley Gardens 3 to restore the existing lift.

(vi) Speak with the bus companies to secure a diversion of a bus route along Madeira Drive.

(vii)  Ensure that the Madeira Terrace portacabin is made available 24/7/365 to the Save Madeira Terrace volunteers.

Proposed by: Cllr Fishleigh                                            Seconded by: Cllr Earthey

Recommendations to read if carried:

This Council:

1. Notes the disappointment rightly felt by residents and campaign groups that restoration work on Madeira Terraces, one of the jewels in the crown of Brighton heritage, has yet again been delayed.

2. Acknowledges that postponing the work will lead to increased costs and put the restoration in jeopardy.

3. Apologises to residents and campaign groups for the delay.

4. Indicates its desire to commence work in Spring 2024, and to renovate all 151 arches.

5. Notes that the Madeira Terrace Advisory Group was not consulted on the recent decision to delay the restoration.

6.  Notes that a recent poll conducted by The Argus saw 64% of respondents preferring Madeira Terrace to be restored rather than Valley Gardens 3 proceed.

7. Notes the previous requests from residents for restoration of the existing Madeira Terrace lift and a bus route along Madeira Drive.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

8. Request regular updates on funding sought for the complete restoration of Madeira Terraces, and regular updates to residents on progress.

9. Requests an Officer report setting out where the funding is held, how it is held, what interest it is gaining, and how secure it is.

10.  Instruct the leader of the Council to allocate budget for a professional (external) fundraising consultant to identify and apply for grants and explore opportunities for investment from high net worth individuals and sponsorship opportunities.

11. Start an objective cross-party discussion about whether a commercially-led solution (akin to the arches by the i360) would be more successful in securing future grants, donations from HNWs and sponsorship.

12. Re-open the two structurally sound staircases which are completely closed and the two which are partly opened.

13. Re-paint, powerwash, litter pick and weed the staircases that are currently open.

14. Re-allocate the c£2 million of BHCC money (not the loan or grant) set aside for Valley Gardens 3 to restore the existing lift.

15. Speak with the bus companies to secure a diversion of a bus route along Madeira Drive.

16.  Ensure that the Madeira Terrace portacabin is made available 24/7/365 to the Save Madeira Terrace volunteers.