Issue - items at meetings - Petitions

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

18(i)       E-petition – Queens Park dog control order

 

18.1               Councillor Fryer had submitted an e-petition and accompanying paper petition both presented at Council on 15 July 2010 and signed by 375 and 1526 people respectively requesting that the council review the operation of the dog control order in Queens Park, and return all areas to the dog-free status enjoyed prior to January 2009.

 

18.2               Councillor Steedman presented the petition on behalf on Councillor Fryer who was unable to attend the meeting and also submitted an additional 102 signatures.

 

18.3               The Cabinet Member explained that he would respond to the petition during consideration of the deputation on the same issue.

 

18.4               RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(ii)      E-petition – Queens Park dog control order

 

18.5               Paul Mendlesohn presented an e-petition and accompanying paper petition both presented at Council on 15 July 2010 and signed by 68 and 333 people respectively requesting that the council did not ban dogs from the Southern Lawns, lake and Wild Park areas of Queens Park.

 

18.6               The Cabinet Member explained that he would respond to the petition during consideration of the deputation on the same issue.

 

18.7               RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(iii)     E-petition – parking, Springfield Road, Florence Road and the section of Southdown Avenue between them

 

18.8               Alasdair Buchan had submitted an e-petition signed by 63 people requesting that the council include Springfield Road, Florence Road and the section of Southdown Avenue between them in the extension to the existing Controlled Parking Zone J (London Road Station area residents parking scheme).

 

18.9               Councillor Kennedy presented the petition on behalf of Mr Buchan and also submitted an additional 173 signatures.

 

18.10          The Cabinet Member explained that he would respond to the petition during consideration of Item 26 on the agenda.

 

18.11          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(iv)     E-petition – Area J Controlled Parking Zone

 

18.12          Stephen Hodgkinson had submitted an e-petition signed by 26 people requesting that the council undertakes a parking survey covering all of the streets included in the Area J Extension implemented in November 2009.

 

18.13          The Cabinet Member explained that consideration of the e-petition would be deferred until September at the request of Mr Hodgkinson.

 

18.14          RESOLVED – That the petition be deferred.

 

18(v)      Petition – Ladies Mile Nature Reserve

 

18.15          David Denyer had submitted a petition signed by 287 people opposing the introduction of sheep to Ladies Mile Nature Reserve.

 

18.16          The Cabinet Member reported that there were no plans to introduce sheep grazing to the nature reserve and added that local residents and users of the nature reserve would be fully consulted on any future plans for the reserve and listened to carefully.

 

18.17          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(vi)     Petitions – parking, the Droveway and Elrington Road

 

18.18          Councillor Bennett presented two petitions signed by 50 and 49 people respectively requesting that introduction of single yellow lines with time restrictions and that the proposed parking scheme for the area be introduced with the exception of the 11 hour limit on shared permit holders and long term parking which should be reduced to four hours.

 

18.19          With regard to the request for single yellow lines, the Cabinet Member advised that the council was not proposing to introduce any more single yellow lines operating for only one hour periods in the day because they have caused displacement and created problems for non-resident vehicles.

 

18.20          The Cabinet Member explained that residents in the Droveway were consulted in November 2008 and they objected to the proposed resident parking scheme; the council was currently completing its agreed timetable for carrying out consultation in other areas. The proposal in the petition for resident only bays was at odds with the principle of creating the right balance between residents, visitors and business use. Schemes could not be introduced in isolated streets or for parts of roads and the Droveway was not directly linked to the Preston Park Station parking scheme.

 

18.21          The Cabinet Member advised that officers would continue to monitor the area and introduce any small measures that might ease the problems, but that it was not possible to offer a quick solution.

 

18.22          RESOLVED – That the petitions be noted.

 

18(vii)    E-petition – barbeque damage to Hove Lawns

 

18.23          Bill Cowell had submitted an e-petition signed by 107 people concerning damage to Hove Lawns caused by barbeques and requesting that the byelaws be enforced by the police and the council.

 

18.24          Mr Cowell was unable to attend the meeting.

 

18.25          The Cabinet Member explained that Seafront Officers enforced the byelaws, including those applying to barbeques, across the whole of our 13km stretch of seafront. In the summer months from 11.30am–7.00pm dedicated officers patrolled of the beaches from Hove Lagoon to the Peace Statue including Hove Lawns and endeavoured to make contact with any group or individual barbequing on the lawns.

 

It was clear that the Seafront Team were responsible for enforcing the byelaw, however, the team could not dedicate all its time to Hove Lawns; priority must be given to responding to calls of an urgent nature and supporting the beach lifeguard service along with dealing with vulnerable adults and children.

 

The Seafront Officers did not have the power to fine people, only the Police could issue fixed penalty notices and the Seafront Team worked closely with the Police and organised Seafront Action Days to tackle the problems together, with the next one planned for July and the team would ensure that the lawns were patrolled with the Police.

 

18.26          The Cabinet Member advised that where barbeques were causing annoyance or distress after 7.00pm, when the Seafront Team was no longer on duty, they could be reported to the Police who would respond accordingly.

 

18.27          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(viii)   E-petition - refurbishment of Victoria Recreation Ground, Portslade

 

18.28          Jacqueline Storey presented an e-petition signed by 57 people calling for the refurbishment of Victoria Recreation Ground in Portslade.

 

18.29          At Ms Storey’s request the Cabinet Member agreed to ask officers to look into the possibility of establishing a catering outlet at Victoria Recreation Ground. He explained that when the council was awarded Playbuilder funding officers prioritised sites for investment based on the condition and quality of the existing sites, areas that were deficient in play facilities and demographic information in relation to where most children in the city were located. The strict criteria meant that Victoria Recreation ground fell just outside the list of selected sites, however, the site was high on the priority list for investment on completion of the Playbuilder Project. On 15 July the Department for Education wrote to all local authorities in receipt of the grant funding instructing them to suspend all projects pending a spending review, and the council was currently awaiting a final decision on whether the grant funding would be forthcoming.

 

The condition survey of playgrounds would be updated during the current year and if the Playbuilder project was able to be completed, Victoria Recreation Ground was likely to be close to the top of the list for investment on completion of the project, but the final decision depended on the grant and the outcome of the condition survey.

 

18.30          The Director of Environment confirmed that if the Playbuilder Project could not be completed, the council would have to look at those parks missing out on funding when determining how to allocate the annual maintenance budget for parks.

 

18.31          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(ix)     Petition – parking, London Road Station area

 

18.32          Councillor Allen presented a petition signed by 76 people opposing the inclusion of Springfield and Florence Roads in proposed Area J CPZ Extension and the petition from residents in support.

 

18.33          The Cabinet Member explained that he would respond to the petition during consideration of Item 26 on the agenda.

 

18.34          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(x)      Petition – grass verges, Carden Court

 

18.35          Councillor Alford presented a petition submitted to Council on 15 July signed by 30 people calling on the council to install either additional trees or bollards along the grass verge in front of Carden Court to protect the it from further destruction by irresponsible drivers.

 

18.36          The Cabinet Member stated that he would instruct officers to meet with Councillor Alford on site, but advised that severe cuts had been made to all budgets including the maintenance budget, and the highway budget was fully committed to essential safety repairs. He added that the council’s policy was only to install bollards if the parking had a significant impact on the safety of the pavement.

 

18.37          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(xi)     Petition – pavement resurfacing, College Street

 

18.38          Councillor Mitchell presented a petition submitted to Council on 15 July signed by 27 people calling on the council to ensure that remedial works to the pavements in Great College Street would be undertaken without further delay.

 

18.39          The Cabinet Member explained that the footways were resurfaced in 2009 and it had been acknowledged that there was some bitumen on walls and the finished surface was not as smooth as expected. The contractor had already returned to remove the bitumen and arrangements were being made for the surface smoothing as soon as possible.

 

18.40          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(xii)    Petition – metered parking, Co-op in Whitehawk

 

18.41          Councillor Morgan presented a petition submitted to Council on 15 July signed by 160 people opposing the introduction of metered parking outside the Co-op in Whitehawk.

 

18.42          The Cabinet Member stated that, while he appreciated that free parking had been available for a long time, ward councillors had supported the inclusion of the area in the Area H parking scheme and no objections from the Co-op had been received because perhaps they felt that short term parking use would benefit their business. The scheme would be given at least six months to bed in before it was reviewed and if there was a strong view on removing the whole road from the scheme it would be considered.

 

18.43          Councillor Mitchell advised that she had declared an interest when the scheme had been considered and played no part in the decision making.

 

18.44          Councillor Morgan added that he had supported consulting residents and listening to the majority view rather than the scheme itself.

 

18.45          RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

                 

18(xiii)   Petition – parking, Tivoli Crescent North

 

18.46Councillor Mrs Norman had submitted a petition presented at Council on 15 July 2010 signed by 34 people calling for Tivoli Crescent North (Withdean Road to Tivoli Crescent section) to be included within Brighton Controlled Parking Zone A.

 

18.47Councillor Mrs Norman was unable to attend the meeting.

 

18.48The Cabinet Member explained that he would respond to the petition duration consideration of the deputation on the same issue.

 

18.49RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

18(xiv) & (xv)   Petitions – Stoneham Park climbing frame

 

18.50          Councillors Kemble and Peltzer Dunn presented petitions submitted to Council on 15 July signed by 780 adults and 516 children respectively requesting that the council replace the climbing frame in Stoneham Park recently damaged by arson.

 

18.51          The Cabinet Member reported that funding had been made available for the playground through S106 developer contributions. Officers were currently working with the local Community Development worker and had canvassed the views of park users at the Stoneham Community Festival Days on 10 and 17 July on how to spend the money that was available to improve the playground. It may involve replacing the burnt section of climbing frame and/or improvement to the overall play space with new equipment and landscaping. The feedback from the Festival Days was being analysed and would be used to draw up some design proposals for an on-site public consultation which was planned for August and where park users could talk to the project team and give feedback on their preferences. Construction work was due to start in the Autumn.

 

18.52          RESOLVED – That the petitions be noted.