Agenda item - Written questions from members of the public.

A list of public questions received by the due date of 12noon on the 9^th July 2015 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum at the meeting.

17.1         The Mayor reported that three written questions had been received from members of the public and invited Ms. Gilbert to come forward and address the council.

17.2         Ms. Gilbert thanked the Mayor and asked the following question; “What is the City Council’s strategy for maintaining bio-diversity and wildlife corridors whilst striving to reach Brighton and Hove’s challenging housing targets.  In the light of the adopted policy under the Community Sustainability Plan 2012-16 which advocates: ‘Protecting and expanding old habitats and creating new space for wildlife?

We understand there is potential for the development of existing brownfield sites for housing (an area approximating 80 football pitches) and suggest it right and proper that all such potential sites be studied carefully prior to any consideration for development which would encroach on our precious wildlife corridors with habitats for thriving flora and fauna, not to mention irreversibly changing our historic villages.”

17.3         Councillor Morgan replied; “Thank you for your question, National Planning policy requires that we should try to meet as much of our housing needas is possible. However, the city can’t meet its housing needs in full as it’s constrained by the sea to the south and the South Downs national park to the north.

Most of the new housing (87%) to be developed in the city over the next 15 years will be on brownfield sites.  But, as part of the City Plan examination process we have been told by the City Plan Planning Inspector to look again at the city’s urban fringe sites for more housing.  In addition to this, Government policy no longer seeks that brownfield sites are developed before greenfield sites - we have to look at both. 

In response to this a study was undertaken last year (2014 Urban Fringe Assessment) identified that:

·           only 7 per cent of the urban fringe may be suitable for housing - as part of this it recommends measures to reduce impacts from development and where possible secure improvements.

·           It confirms that significant areas of the urban fringe are not suitable for development and can remain protected for their open space, landscape and ecological value. 

·           It also identified that four open space areas within the urban fringe could be designated as ‘Local Green Spaces’ that would give them more protection.

We are undertaking more detailed work this year on the sites identified with potential for development. This will look at landscape and wildlife impacts in more detail to ensure that these matters are properly addressed.

If and when sites come forward, specific attention will be given to ensuring there are effective measures in place to mitigate impacts, secure improvements to habitats and, where possible, secure new public open space as a result of development.

You can be assured that the city council gives significant weight to biodiversity and landscape matters when:

·           considering planning applications for new development: and

·           allocating sites for development.”

17.4         Ms. Gilbert asked the following supplementary question; “Would Councillor Morgan reassure residents that the council will do everything in its power to make sure Brownfield sites are more attractive to potential developers when applying for government funding.”

17.5         Councillor Morgan replied; “As I have said the requirement for Brownfield sites has been dropped, but we will look at these in terms of seeking to meet the council’s housing targets and I’m sure there will be on-going discussions with developers and planning inspectors.”

17.6         The Mayor thanked Ms. Gilbert for her questions and called a short adjournment in order for the power to be reactivated to the microphone system.  The meeting was then adjourned for five minutes from 4.50 to 4.55pm.

17.7         Following the reconvening of the meeting the Mayor invited Mr. Stanley to come forward and address the council.  The Mayor noted that Mr. Stanley was not present and therefore asked that a written response be sent to him.

17.8         The Mayor then invited Mr. Kemble to come forward and address the council.

17.9         Mr. Kemble thanked the Mayor and asked the following question; “The Council closed the toilets at Hove Town Hall Car Park as facilities were available at Hove Town Hall.  Following the closure of Hove Town Hall there are no toilet facilities available although the Car Park toilets are open at the weekend.  Would the Council kindly explain why the toilets at hove car Park cannot be open 7 days a week until the Town Hall refurbishment is completed?”

17.10      Councillor Mitchell replied; “It’s good to see you again Ted and thank you very much for your question.  The Norton Road Car Park toilets were closed during week days in 2013 as part of the council’s budget setting process and at the time of the decision the toilets in Hove Town Hall were indeed available during the week when the Town Hall was open.

The Town Hall is now undergoing major building renovation works which is due to be completed mid-2016 and while the building works are on-going the toilets are unavailable.  We have made a considerable effort with the building contractor to find a solution to keep the toilets open but unfortunately keeping the existing toilets in Hove Town Hall open during the works posed too greater safety risks for members of the public.

The Customer Service Centre staff have been advised to direct people to nearest public toilets which are on Goldstone Villas and Hove Library.  This information is also available on our website and we are placing appropriate signage outside of Hove Town Hall and Norton Road Car Park so that people can be made aware of where the nearest toilets are located.  We appreciate that for some travelling to one of these locations will present difficulties, we are therefore arranging for a staff toilet to be made available for the public to use on request but only where there is an urgent need.  How people are supposed to evidence that has not yet been clarified.  Unfortunately, this cannot be made freely available to all to use as it can only be accessed by going through a staff area.  I further understand that consideration was made at the time as to whether the cost of opening the toilets in the Car Park for the duration of the works could be met.  However, the cost of that would be in the order of £10,000 and was something that the council was able to do at the time due to budget constraints.”

17.11      Mr. Kemble asked the following supplementary question; “Madam Mayor, the Leader of the Council has wasted £260,000 on the disposal of the former Chief Executive, would Councillor Mitchell give an undertaking to staff and officers to revisit the decision not to re-open theHove Town Hall Car Park Toilets whilst Hove Town Hall is being refurbished and advise me of the result.”

17.12      Councillor Mitchell replied; “There is currently a review of all public toilets provision in the city currently underway and I can assure you that there will be new public toilets provision in the refurbished Hove Town Hall for the public including and accessible toilet.”

17.13      The Mayor thanked Mr. Kemble for his questions and noted that this concluded the item.