Agenda item - Written questions from members of the public.

A list of public questions received by the due date of 12noon on the 13^th July, 2017 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum at the meeting.

17.1      The Mayor reported that 3 written questions had been received from members of the public and invited Mr. Harris to come forward and address the council.

17.2      The Mayor noted that Mr. Harris was not present and therefore a written response would be sent to him, and then invited Ms. Paynter to come forward and address the council.

17.3      Ms. Paynter asked the following question; “The long and ongoing silence regarding the King Alfred redevelopment is puzzling to many residents. What can the administration tell us at this time about internal meetings and discussions with the developers; what progress is being made?”

17.4      Councillor Morgan replied, “I fully appreciate our residents’ desire for information on progress towards delivery of the King Alfred development and the whole city on to this project and other major projects to be delivered at the earliest opportunity. I can understand frustrations at what at times can seem like nothing is happening and that the council is withholding information needlessly. 

I can confirm that the council and its partners are committed to moving forward with the project and are working very hard to achieve this. A great deal of detailed work is going on and the current apparent silence is a consequence of the commercially sensitive nature of discussions. It simply isn't possible to keep people as informed as we would ideally like but the council is committed to being as open as this complex process allows. Residents will certainly hear more at the appropriate time. I hope that this will be shortly.”

17.5      Ms. Paynter asked the following supplementary question, “Councillor Morgan I'm really disappointed with your reply.  At the last Economic, Development & Culture Committee meeting I was there with a public question and looking at the agenda.  Within that agenda there was a 51 page strategic infrastructure plan and within those 51 pages there was a little mention about the King Alfred.  Down the right-hand column they were giving phasing dates and the dates of 2022 to 2028 were plainly printed there for the King Alfred.  That told me and it's told others that that means nothing is happening until at least 2020.  So if it was printed in an agenda is there any reason why you couldn't be making some of that information more obviously publicly known?”

17.6      Councillor Morgan replied, “This Administration will be transparent and open with residents whenever and wherever possible.  However, where commercial confidentiality means we cannot do that, while in pursuit of the best deal for the city and for taxpayers, then we will get on with the job that all of us were elected to do; acting in the best interests of the residents of Brighton & Hove.”

17.7      The Mayor thanked Ms. Paynter for attending the meeting and putting her questions, she then invited Mr. Hawtree to come forward and address the council.

17.8      Mr. Hawtree asked the following question; “Can Councillor Robbins please tell us how much money the Carnegie Library would receive each year from the apparent proposal to rent out library space to a café?”

17.9      Councillor Robins replied; “I know that the library service is very important to you as they are to me. We've been working as a cross-party group to try and identify positive income generations from the Carnegie Library that will allow the library to remain in the same location. It's been very well supported by all parties.  With respect to your specific question; we are in the middle of negotiations regarding the leasing of the space for a cafe at Hove library and so for reasons of commercial sensitivity, which I'm sure you will fully understand, we're unable to give information until the negotiations have been concluded and the lease agreed.”

17.10   Mr. Hawtree asked the following supplementary question; “I should like to very much welcome your recent offer for this coming January to look again that the recent 600 percent increase in reservation charges. So with these things in mind, could a granular review of the Carnegie situation be arranged where, among other things, we have lately seen scant use of the locked room by the private college and opening hours each weekday are now an hour less than they were when you took charge. We've also recently found that for every new book one is jettisoned so I’d just like to summarise and say I think we need to keep looking at the way the Carnegie Library operates and is used by the people of Hove and also I'm so glad we've got £26 million coming this way so I hope that might be able to help.”

17.11   Councillor Robins stated that he was unable to provide a response and would send Mr. Hawtree a written reply after the meeting.

17.12   The Mayor thanked Mr. Hawtree for attending the meeting and putting his questions and noted that brought the item to a conclusion.