Agenda item - Chair's Communications

37.1      The Chair provided the following Communications:

“First of all I would like to pay tribute to David Marks the architect, along with his partner Julia Barfield, of the British Airways i360 who died last week. Over the past decade, David was instrumental in changing the skyline of this city, as he had done in London with the London Eye. Despite our differences over the project, David was always friendly, courteous and human in his dealings with me and it was an honour to speak at the opening of the British Airways i360 after him last year. As was said of Christopher Wren: ‘if you seek his monument, look around you’. Of David Marks, we need only to look up.

I would like to place on record thanks to Nick Hibberd and all the officers involved in the recent charrette visit and workshop with senior civil servants from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy, & Industrial Strategy on the 28^th and 29^th of September. It was a success for the city and for the Greater Brighton economic region and I’d like to signal my appreciation to colleagues from the Economic Board, from Ricardo, the Digital Catapult, British Airways i360 and the University of Brighton Advanced Engineering Centre for hosting the two day event. The input from all involved will, I’m sure, lead to investment in the City Region and a better future for the city, for Greater Brighton and the Southern Accelerator.

Thanks to Visit Brighton and the team at the Royal Pavilion Museum for securing a 6% increase to the Pavilion and an amazing 27% increase at Brighton Museum. Alongside the works at the Pavilion Estate, our plans for a new Trust and the work on the seafront, our heritage is being preserved, promoted and invested in at the same time we have new attractions to add to our already rich tourist and visitor offer.

Continuing thanks, I’d like to thank all of the local business, residents and others who have pledged support to the Madeira Terraces crowdfunding campaign so far and thanks to The Argus for their wholehearted backing this week. There are a dedicated band of local residents who have set up a raffle with over 200 prizes to be won. The Terraces are owned by the council but belong to Brighton & Hove and I’d urge anyone who values this iconic part of our local heritage to pledge today at www.savemadeiraterrace.org before the 30^th November. We’ve some way to go before we hit the target but I know this city and its residents can get us there.

Our best wishes to Richard Bradley who has moved on to a new challenge at Scarborough Borough Council.  Richard made a considerable contribution in his time here as evidenced by the improved recycling figures announced this week.

And finally, the Small Business Saturday Bus will be returning to Ship Street in Brighton on 24 November 2017 between 10am – 2pm and will mark 5 years since the campaign was launched. The ‘Small Business Saturday Blue Sofa’ is a new addition where interviews and exclusive Q&A sessions with local small businesses and experts will be streamed via Facebook Live. There will be mentoring sessions offering free support and advice and Inspire workshops that cover accountancy, social media and online marketing. A number of local small businesses have been invited to have a stall alongside the bus”.