Annual Review

It is very nearly a year since I was re-elected in Hanover and Elm Grove and we took administration of the City Council. I was proud to be appointed as Chair of the brand new Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities (NCE) committee within weeks of starting out.

I thought it would be good to have a look back over the year and share it with residents. Firstly, because I think it’s a good thing to keep residents up to date and secondly, because it gives you the chance to feedback.

Case work

The vast majority of the case work I have dealt with has been around street cleanliness, refuse collections and so on. A lot has changed in a year, and now the messages are much fewer and further between. There are still some sticky issues: The communal bins in a few streets in Hanover, black sack collections on a few streets. Being an area characterised by steep hills and narrow pavements, this does present some challenges.

I have also had a lot of emails on HMOs – and tackling unauthorised ones. My fellow Labour Councillor, Tracey Hill has set up a working group to try to deal with the very many issues relating to private rented accommodation in the city including this one. Community feedback so far is very positive. If you would like to be kept informed email tracey.hill@brighton-hove.gov.uk

In the Autumn last year a few serious anti-social behaviour problems relating to HMOs in the Bentham Road area arose. I am pleased to say that the Universities really did tackle these houses and it was all over campus that they had cracked down on “party houses”. I think this is a really good outcome. The vast majority of HMOs cause few problems…it is important though that residents know that when they do, we will work with all partners in the city to deal with it. There is also a shop front for the University of Sussex on the Lewes Road in an attempt to make the University much more accessible to local residents.

Views and opinions

The area is subject to two important consultation exercises at the moment. One is the consultation on bringing in parking controls. This was requested by a sub-group of volunteers from the local HEGLAT (residents’ forum). I am not campaigning on any of the options, but I will be interested in trying to ensure that the whole area takes a decision, not leaving pockets isolated without controls.

In addition, like everywhere citywide, there is the school catchment consultation. At the moment, we are engaging residents in getting feedback on three broad options before the formal consultation in the Autumn.

Citywide activity as Chair of the N.C.E. committee

Establishing the city’s Fairness Commission which reports in just weeks from now and will provide a route map to a more equal city
Delivering refugee support as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons relocation programme and championing the City Of Sanctuary work for elected members
Raising £1,000 for the Calais Jungle School Bus project which was set up by a local teacher
Establishing monthly surgeries for community and voluntary sector groups to raise issues
Creating a committee that meets in neighbourhoods around the city and includes the voices of people affected by key decisions in the meeting
Meeting with faith groups to recognise their role in meeting social issues and to build relationships for the city
Attending and supporting the Racial Harassment Forum in gaining a formal scrutiny relationship with public services in the city.
Overseeing the community safety and equalities partnerships
Chairing the Trans Scrutiny Working Group
Protecting grants to the voluntary sector
Protecting the funding for domestic abuse services
Leading the work to increase the volunteering within our city including the Power of Volunteering pledge
Supporting my deputy chair who is lead member for rough sleeping to create a city where we reduce the need to sleep rough