Issue - items at meetings - Maintenance of Historic Buildings

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

1.     That the priorities for current and future action to secure the maintenance and repair of historic buildings in Brighton & Hove be noted and agreed.

2.     That the updated list of historic buildings that are considered to be ‘at risk’ be endorsed (Appendix 1).

3.     That the proposed arrangements for the service of notices under delegated powers, as set out in paragraphs 3.18 and 3.19 of this report, be agreed.

34.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning current and future priorities for the enforcement of repair works to historic buildings in the city (for copy see minute book).

34.2       Officers had advised that there was an error in the report recommendations. Recommendation 2.3 referred to paragraphs 3.18 and 3.19 of the report, not paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2.

34.3       The Cabinet Member stated that the Council was determined to improve the appearance of the city’s streets and maintain the quality of the city’s historic buildings, using planning enforcement powers where necessary.  The report clarified how the Council would prioritise action to secure necessary repair and updated the Council’s adopted Conservation Strategy with a revised and more comprehensive register of those listed buildings that were currently considered to be ‘at risk’. Many of those were vacant and merited the highest priority for future action to secure repair and new uses. The Cabinet Member stated that the appearance of the city also suffered from buildings that, whilst physically sound, looked unsightly through lack of maintenance.  Through the actions listed in the report the Council would commit to enforcement action against those owners of those historic buildings, generally in conservation areas, where more modest repair and redecoration was long over due. The final priority would be enforcement work as part of likely future area-based enhancement schemes to be programmed in the Valley Gardens and Old Town conservation areas.

34.4       Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and noted that its effect was to pull together existing powers and make them more focussed. She was pleased that this would be backed up by enforcement and requested that officers also take in account the infrastructure surrounding historic buildings.

34.5       RESOLVED – That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That the priorities for current and future action to secure the maintenance and repair of historic buildings in Brighton & Hove be noted and agreed.

(2)       That the updated list of historic buildings that are considered to be ‘at risk’ be endorsed (Appendix 1).

(3)       That the proposed arrangements for the service of notices under delegated powers, as set out in paragraphs 3.18 and 3.19 of this report, be agreed.