Issue - items at meetings - Petitions

(copy attached).

8.1           The Lawyer to the meeting clarified that when a petition has already been presented at Council, the constitution provided that it should be received without discussion at the Cabinet Member Meeting. The Member presenting the petition is to be invited to the meeting and informed subsequently of any action taken. Councillors presenting petitions directly to the Cabinet Member Meeting were limited to speaking for not more than three minutes, and were confined to reading out, or summarising, the prayer of the petition and indicating the number and description of the signatories.

 

8.2           The Lawyer stated that in practice the Cabinet Member could use their discretion to allow Councillors presenting petitions to speak briefly to the petition.

 

8.(i)    Petition - requesting that Stanford Court be included in the Preston Park Avenue parking scheme

 

8.3           Councillor Allen presented a petition signed by 15 people requesting that Stanford Court be included in the Preston Park Avenue parking scheme.

 

8.4           The Cabinet Member stated that consultation was ongoing on this scheme. If a resident parking permit scheme is proposed for Preston Park Avenue then Stanford Court would be considered as part of the next consultation process. Any parking scheme would need to be advertised through a traffic regulation order and Ward Councillors would be fully consulted on any proposals.

 

8.5           RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(ii)   Petition - installation of measures to prevent further damage to the forecourts at the Valley Road shops

 

8.6           Councillor Carden had submitted a petition signed by 363 people concerning the installation of measures to prevent further damage to the forecourts at the Valley Road shops.

 

8.7           Councillor Carden was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.8           RESOLVED– That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

8.(iii)  Petition - request for a pelican crossing on the A270 between Barcombe Road shops and Wild Park

 

8.9           Councillor Caulfield presented a petition signed by 249 people concerning a request for a pelican crossing on the A270 between Barcombe Road shops and Wild Park.

 

8.10       The Cabinet Member stated that he took all requests for pedestrian crossings extremely seriously, especially if there were concerns about children’s safety. The Council was committed to reducing casualties across the city and the fairest way of doing this was to tackle the locations where the highest number of injuries occurred first.  This would ensure that the most dangerous roads were made safer.  Officers had assessed the request but were not able to recommend that it be prioritised on this occasion, as it had a good safety record. The Cabinet Member stated that the reference to children attending Falmer High School prompted him to encourage the petitioners to participate in the current consultation on the proposals for an Academy on the High School site and put forward their views about the need for a crossing as part of that process.

 

8.11       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(iv)  Petition - request fornight time barriers at London Road car park

 

8.12       Councillor Davey had submitted a petition signed by 36 people concerning a request fornight time barriers at London Road car park.

 

8.13       Councillor Davey was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.14       The Cabinet Member was pleased to inform the meeting that night time barriers would be installed at the London Road car park as part of planned improvements now that the Council had agreed to bring back in-house the management of Council owned car parks in the city.

 

8.15       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

8.(v)   Petition - opposition to the installation of communal bins in Nizells Avenue and the park area

 

8.16       Councillor Davis had submitted a petition signed by 56 people concerning opposition to the installation of communal bins in Nizells Avenue and the park area.

 

8.17       Councillor Mitchell presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Davis, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.18       The Cabinet Member stated that he was considering comments made by residents following the recent consultation process, and a decision on communal bins would be made later in the year.

 

8.19       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(vi)  Petition - request for traffic calming measures on Montefiore Road

 

8.20       Councillor Davis had submitted a petition signed by 188 people concerning a request for traffic calming measures on Montefiore Road, to stop dangerous speeding cars cutting through.

 

8.21       Councillor Mitchell presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Davis, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.22       The Cabinet Member stated that the Road Safety Engineering Programme was prioritised to reduce casualties against a list of sites with the highest accident rates in the city. Montefiore Road had a relatively low rate of incidents when reviewed over the last 3 year period, so could not be recommended above other sites for any intervention. However, the location would continue to be monitored against the Safety Programme criteria.

 

8.23       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(vii)Petition - request for the Council to agree for a plaque to identify the LGBT Suicide Memorial Tree in St Anne’s Well Gardens

 

8.24       Councillor Duncan had submitted a petition signed by 111 people concerning a request for the Council to agree for a plaque to identify the LGBT Suicide Memorial Tree in St Anne’s Well Gardens.

 

8.25       Councillor Wakefield-Jarrett presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Duncan, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.26       The Cabinet Member stated that this matter had already been raised at Environment Committee.  He reiterated that the Council received many kindly donations of trees from differing groups and residents in memoriam and, in particular, St Anne’s Well Gardens, for which the Council was very grateful. It was important that all the people in the city could use the parks for quiet contemplation and solace, including the LGBT community. The Council was more than happy to show a map identifying the tree in question at the entrance to St Anne’s Well Gardens.  This should help people find the tree more easily and address the concerns about the vandalism of plaques. The Cabinet Member stated that he would ask officers to progress this speedily and keep Councillors Duncan and Wakefield-Jarrett updated.

 

8.27       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(viii)Petition - request to resurface Lansdowne Place following work by 4D and Southern Water

 

8.28       Councillor Elgood had submitted a petition signed by 15 people concerning a request to resurface Lansdowne Place following work by 4D and Southern Water.

 

8.29       Councillor Watkins presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Elgood, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.30       The Cabinet Member stated that he appreciated that the major works across our city had meant trenches dug in many of the roads. The reinstatement of the trench in Lansdowne Place was up to standard and was all that could be reasonably requested following works of this kind. However, he would ask officers to monitor the condition of the surface.

 

8.31       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(ix)  Petition - request to urgently repair the Floral Clock following recent vandalism

 

8.32       Councillor Elgood had submitted a petition signed by 36 people concerning a request to urgently repair the Floral Clock following recent vandalism.

 

8.33       Councillor Watkins presented the petition on behalf of Councillor Elgood, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.34       The Cabinet Member stated that the floral clock had been sent to Edinburgh for repair and was expected to be returned in eight week’s time.

 

8.35       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(x)   Petition - request for traffic calming scheme on Wilbury Avenue, Wilbury Villas (railway bridge) and Wilbury Crescent

 

8.36       Councillor Fallon-Khan presented a petition signed by 44 people concerning a request for traffic calming scheme on Wilbury Avenue, Wilbury Villas (railway bridge) and Wilbury Crescent to curb the excessive speeds at which motorists travel down these roads and use them as a cut through.

 

8.37       The Cabinet Member stated that the overall approach to road safety was primarily based on identifying and treating those locations where casualty problems were most serious, as the highest priorities. This would ensure that the most dangerous roads were made safer. Officers had investigated this road in accordance with the request and Police data showed that the road had a good record compared to the many other sites across the city where a significant number of casualties had occurred.  It was therefore not possible for them to recommend that it be prioritised as part of the Road Safety Engineering programme on this occasion.

 

The Cabinet Member pledged to ensure that, as speeding was a traffic offence, residents concerns would be made known to the Police and in liaison with them, consideration could be given to taking some speed measurements.

 

This petition would be retained on file for future reference should circumstances change in the local area and it could be considered alongside other requests that were received.

 

8.38       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xi)  Petition - request to introduce measures to prevent parking difficulties in Nizells Avenue

 

8.39       Councillor Fallon-Khan presented a petition signed by 185 people concerning a request to introduce measures to prevent parking difficulties in Nizells Avenue.

 

8.40       Councillor Fallon-Khan asked that it be noted that Councillor Davis had also put a lot of work into this issue.

 

8.41       The Cabinet Member stated that the parking restrictions along Nizells Avenue and Somerhill Road would be investigated to address the problems of long term parking around St Anne’s Well Gardens. Any changes would need to be advertised through a traffic regulation order and Ward Councillors would be fully consulted on any proposals.

 

8.42       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xii)Petition - request to retain the current house-to-house rubbish collection service for Denmark Mews

 

8.43       Councillor Fallon-Khan presented a petition signed by 16 people concerning a request to retain the current house-to-house rubbish collection service for Denmark Mews.

 

8.44       The Cabinet Member stated that he was considering comments made by residents following the recent consultation process, and a decision on communal bins would be made in the year.

 

8.45       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xiii)Petition - request for a speed camera and a reduction in the speed limit on the Old Shoreham Road

 

8.46       Councillor Hamilton presented a petition signed by 382 people concerning a request for a speed camera and a reduction in the speed limit on the Old Shoreham Road between the traffic lights at the Sainsbury’s end and the traffic lights at the Southern Cross end.

 

8.47       The Cabinet Member stated that he was aware how strongly Councillors Hamilton and Barnett felt about this issue. Speed cameras were now the responsibility of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership. The Cabinet Member pledged to ensure that the petition was forwarded to partnership officers and discussed at the next meeting, in his capacity as the representative for this authority. The Government had also set all local authorities the task of reviewing the speed limits on all ‘A’ and ‘B’ class roads by 2011. Old Shoreham Road, in its entirety, would be included within this review which may, where appropriate, lead to changes in speed limits.

 

8.48       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xiv)Petition - opposition to communal bins in Clifton Road

 

8.49       Councillor Kitcat had submitted a petition signed by 35 people concerning opposition to communal bins in Clifton Road in the Montpelier and Clifton Hill Conservation Area.

 

8.50       Councillor Kitcat was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.51       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

8.(xv)Petition - replacement of the statue of Steve Ovett in Preston Park

 

8.52       Councillor McCaffery had submitted a petition signed by 160 people concerning the replacement ofthe statue of Steve Ovett in Preston Park.

 

8.53       Councillor Allen presented the petition on behalf of Councillor McCaffery, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.54       The Cabinet Member stated that he was very sympathetic to this matter and that the Council would be very happy to work with any group that raised funds or resources to replace the statue, as it was currently doing with other groups such as the AIDS Memorial Group. However, the Council did not currently have funding identified for commissioning public art.

 

8.55       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xvi)Petition - consultation of residents in the streets immediately to the north of Ditchling Rise on a residents’ parking scheme

 

8.56       Councillor McCaffery had submitted a petition signed by 150 people concerning consultation of residents in the streets immediately to the north of Ditchling Rise on a residents’ parking scheme as part of the London Road Station area scheme.

 

8.57       Councillor Allen presented the petition on behalf of Councillor McCaffery, who was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.58       The Cabinet Member stated that the Council would include the area (all roads within the Stanford Avenue/Ditching Road triangle) within the overall consultation for a parking scheme.

 

8.59       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xvii)Petition - relocation of the proposed pedestrian refuge in Carden Hill and installation of yellow markings near the school in Carden Avenue

 

8.60       Councillor Pidgeon had submitted a petition signed by 408 people concerning relocation of the proposed pedestrian refuge in Carden Hill and installation of yellow markings near the school in Carden Avenue.

 

8.61       Councillor Pidgeon was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.62       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

8.(xviii)Petition - request for traffic calming measures for Old London Road, Patcham

 

8.63       Councillor Pidgeon had submitted a petition signed by 41 people concerning a request for traffic calming measures for Old London Road, Patcham.

 

8.64       Councillor Pidgeon was unable to attend the meeting.

 

8.65       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided.

 

8.(xix)Petition - request for introduction of single yellow lines on Montpelier Villas

 

8.66       Councillor Rufus presented a petition signed by 107 people concerning a request to introduce single yellow lines on Montpelier Villas.

 

8.67       The Cabinet Member stated that as part of the Central Brighton parking review, a meeting had taken place with residents from Montpelier Villas, who had not wanted any single yellow lines in this road. This was because of the amount of driveways along both sides that could be blocked by parked cars and because of the additional signage that this would create in an important conservation area. However, if a majority of residents in the area wanted to have single yellow lines between crossovers in Montpelier Villas (and the required signage), then the Council could investigate the issue and advertise the change as part of the next available traffic order.

 

8.68       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xx)Petition - parking in Hereford Street and Essex Street

 

8.69       Councillor Steedman presented a petition signed by 36 people concerning parking in Hereford Street and Essex Street.

 

8.70       The Cabinet Member stated that the parking restrictions in Hereford Street and Essex Street would be investigated as part of the Area C parking review which would take place alongside the resident parking scheme review of the Hanover and Elm Grove area. This would be in the Spring of 2009. Any changes would need to be consulted on throughout the whole of the Area C resident parking scheme and advertised through a traffic regulation order. Ward Councillors would be fully consulted on any proposals.

 

8.71       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted and a written response be provided regarding the other issues mentioned in the petition.

 

8.(xxi)Petition - installation of a lamp column at the eastern side of Central Park, Woodingdean

 

8.72       Councillor Wells presented a petition signed by 36 people concerning installation of a lamp column at the eastern side of Central Park, Woodingdean.

 

8.73       The Cabinet Member stated that for this year the budget was fully committed to maintaining and improving the lighting on the city streets.  Each new light column was very costly to install and run and so it was not possible to provide something within the park at this time. The Cabinet Member pledged to ask the Director to look at whether there are any other sources of funding and also agreed to look into Councillor Wells’ suggestion to install a solar-powered lamp column.

 

8.74       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xxii)Petition - request for closure of the alleyway between 27 and 28 George Street, Brighton

 

8.75       Councillor Steedman presented a petition signed by 65 people concerning a request for closure of the alleyway between 27 and 28 George Street, Brighton.

 

8.76       The Cabinet Member stated that he would respond jointly to this petition and the deputation on the same subject.

 

8.77       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xxiii)Petition - request to reconsider the proposed location of a communal bin halfway along St Nicholas Road

 

8.78       Councillor West presented a petition signed by 65 people concerning a request to reconsider the proposed location of a communal bin halfway along St Nicholas Road.

 

8.79       The Cabinet Member stated that he was considering comments made by residents following the recent consultation process, and a decision on communal bins would be made later in the year.

 

8.80       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.

 

8.(xxiv)Petition – refuse problems in the Hanover area

 

8.81       Councillor Wrighton presented a petition signed by 158 people concerning refuse problems in the Hanover area.

 

8.82       The Cabinet Member provided a joint response to the petition and the letter from Councillor Wrighton about the same issue. He stated that clean streets were a priority for the city, which is why things like communal bins and wheelie bins had been rolled out. Binvelopes had been tested in areas where these types of containment had not worked. There were issues with the cost and effectiveness of binvelopes, for example, in the North Laine, where they had been in use for some time. However, officers had been asked to work with Ward Councillors in Hanover and Elm Grove to find ways to overcome these problems. The cabinet Member noted that Councillor Wrighton had met with Council officers the day before this meeting and an agreement had been reached to continue a larger scale trial with close community involvement. The detail of the trial and timescales would be discussed with Ward Councillors. In response to the query on weekly recycling, there were no plans to extend the service at present.

 

8.83       RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.