Issue - items at meetings - Public Questions

(The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 16 July 2009)

(copy attached).

16.1       The Cabinet Member noted that two public questions had been received.

16.2       Mr Pennington asked the following question:

“Given the importance of the Madeira Drive Lift to enabled children, carers with buggies and the disabled to access the beach etc; and given that the alternative routes are over two kilometres long (ignoring the 23 stepped routes which are inappropriate for many): 

Since the season started in 2009, on how many days has the Madeira Drive Lift been working with access to the public and on how many days has it been closed for repairs etc.  (including the current closure which started on or about July 15th 2009)?”

16.3       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“Thank you, Mr Pennington, for your question and I would agree that the Madeira Lift is very important to enable access to and from Madeira Drive.

To answer your question, the Madeira Lift opened for the summer season 2009 on Friday, 10 April.  In that time up to and including 19 July there have been 101 operating days, out of these 24 days have been lost due to various lift breakdowns where spare parts were required and specialist repairs to the control panel had to be carried out.

Therefore, the lift has been open to the public for a total of 77 days.”

16.4       Mr Pennington asked the following supplementary question:

“Is the Madeira Lift open for use now?”

16.5       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“To my knowledge, yes.”

16.6       Mr Hawtree asked the following question:

"Would Councillor Theobald please give us his view of the public seating in George Street, Hove?"

16.7       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“Thank you for your question, Mr. Hawtree, regarding the public seating in George Street.

The city’s public realm is something I am passionate about.  Having good levels of public seating is key to enabling people to spend time in the city and I am aware that, at present, there is not as much public seating across the city as I would like. The need to redress this deficit is something that the council is aware of.  Unfortunately, as I am sure you will appreciate, we cannot change everything overnight, and the city’s limited budget needs careful prioritisation.

George Street is a vibrant, successful place with some public seating provision.  Whilst the area would benefit from more public seating, there is currently no budget specifically set aside for additional seating in the city. In the short term my priority has to focus on ensuring new public seating is included in new schemes, in areas with less current provision that George Street, whenever opportunities arise. However, I will make sure that George Street is not forgotten and I will ensure that additional seating is considered as soon as an opportunity arises.”

16.8       Mr Hawtree asked the following supplementary question:

“Can we expect that improved seating will be provided in George Street before the next general election?”

16.9       The Cabinet Member gave the following response:

“I believe I have covered the issues in my previous response.”