How being a councillor helps you get fit...
Toured all of the floors of two of north Whitehawk's high rise blocks this morning with housing staff and residents, much cleaner than this time last year but still quite a lot of repair and maintenance issues to be tackled.
Followed up on the fly tipping by taking a walk up Whitehawk Hill behind the blocks and along the broad sweep of grass just south of the racecourse popular with dog walkers and the site of several recent traveller encampments. With the help of some dog walkers was able to locate two or three large piles of builders waste, an old fridge and general rubbish. From what was there and the fact that the site should have been cleared after the last lot of travellers left, I suspect this was fly tipping by someone unconnected with the travellers. We will at some point identify the offenders and prosecute them.
Still, a very nice morning for a walk and good excercise!
Photos and comments
At present it's not possible to post comments or add photos directly on to councillor blogs, but I've set up a comment facility so that you can send comments to me directly from this site, and added more photos to my gallery so that you can see some of the places I'm talking about in my blog entries.
Credit Union in Craven Vale
The Brighton and Hove Credit Union, which offers savings and loan facilities to residents on a co-operative, not-for-profit basis, opens a new "Access Point" in Craven Vale next Tuesday and every Tuesday from 12 till 2 in The Shed community Room in Hadlow Close.
Casework contrasts
Have had a heavy caseload over the past few days, tackling constituent issues including housing, neighbour problems, an incident involving the police, dropped kerbs for wheelchair users on Eastern Road and a number of other issues.
Over the past couple of days I have had the chance to compare the type of casework a councillor has with the type of casework an MP has, as I have sat in for Des Turner at two of his advice surgeries while he is away on Parliamentary business. There the work involves dealing with government agencies, the NHS, immigration services and many other issues that people encounter. Of course some of the same issues come up as well and I've been able to take those up directly as the constituent's councillor, but it is always interesting to see what kind of events or issues lead someone to approach an elected representative, at what level they make that contact, and what steps they take to resolve issues with other agencies before making that contact.
Brighton and Hove - an impressive city
Took some time out yesterday afternoon to show some visitors from one of the major US cities around Brighton. They were enormously impressed by the Jubilee Library, and saw too the improvements underway oustide the Theatre Royal in New Road which will make the area much more pleasant for pedestrians and open out the sight lines to Pavilion Gardens. They very much liked the new developments around the station at the New England Quarter, and were very interested to see the plans for the new sports centre and housing on the King Alfred site. Overall the sustainable economic development and partnership projects to deliver first-class public facilities compare very well with what is happening in the US.
This afternoon I am attending my first planning sub-committee to consider the proposals for the i360 at the West Pier.
i360 and the West Pier
I was very pleased to play a part in approving plans for the i360 tower at today's planning committee. I said at the meeting that I remembered walking on the West Pier when I was a child, that like many I miss it and always look on the ruins as I pass it on the way to council meetings in Hove with a great deal of sadness.
The closure and subsequent destruction of the pier by fire and storms left a hole on the seafront that this tower will fill. It's an elegant replacement that will incorporate some designs and material from the original pier, and I think a worthy modern equivalent to Eugenius Birch's much missed masterpiece.
Community meetings
After the dizzy heights of the i360 (apparently BBC South Today reported my comments yesterday) it's back down to earth with a series of meetings in my ward.
Last night was the Craven Vale Community Association, which tackled the issue of block cleaning with a senior housing officer. This morning I attended the East Area Housing Management Panel, of which I am Deputy Chair, where we were updated on the proposed housing stock transfer and projects being dealt with under the East area estate development budget. Sounds dull but it is actually getting problems like people's fencing, gates and other local environmental/communal area problems sorted out.
This afternoon I'm off to a licencing hearing on a new convenience store on Eastern Road, and on Saturday morning at 10am in Hampshire Lodge I will be joining colleagues from East Brighton and Queen's Park wards to take questions from members of the Kingscliffe Society, which covers much of the Kemp Town area.
Anti-social behaviour and crime on Eastern Road
Yesterday's Licensing Panel hearing gave me a chance to find out about the kind of alcohol-related problems local residents have been experiencing at the far end of Eastern Road near Church Place. Taking into account pubs, off-licences, supermarkets and garages, there are a surprising number of alcohol outlets within a relatively small area. Fences have been broken and youths gather at night which causes a lot of concern to the residents of the mews and streets nearby.
I and my colleagues will be keeping a close eye on things and with the help of residents can take steps to address disorder if it can be shown to be connected with alcohol sales.
Kingscliffe Society
Along with ward colleagues Gill Mitchell and Craig Turton, and Delia Forester who is councillor for neighbouring Queens Park ward, I went along to face questions at a very well attended meeting of the Kingscliffe Society yesterday morning. The society is one of Brighton and Hove's vibrant conservation societies, concerned with safeguarding the heritage of our Regency era seafront and enhancing the local environment.
Though our views on issues such as the Brighton Marina development and the proposed stadium at Falmer differ, there was much common ground on subjects including licensing and alcohol related anti social behaviour, transport and provision for young people.
The debate was informed, views were presented with passion but respect, and a good deal of useful information was shared, particularly on housing and planning issues. I'm grateful to the officers of the Society for giving me the chance to talk to members and hear their views.
A national blog for history
'One Day in History' is a one day project to collect a mass blog for the national record; a 'blog' diary which will be stored by the British Library as a historical record of our national life.
Write your diary, reflecting on how history itself impacted on your day at One Day In History
Comment on this blog entryCentres of excellence
Last night I attended the annual general meeting of the Resource Centre, which drew in well over fifty people from various groups, community organisations and tenant associations from across Brighton and Hove. I'm very proud to be the council's representative with this unique and invaluable organisation, if you don't know what they can do for you, visit their website and find out.
This morning the Roundabout Children's Centre in Whitehawk was formally opened by Councillor Pat Hawkes in front of very many parents from across my ward along with all of the staff from the council, NHS and other bodies who have made this centre a reality and who will work within it. It will undoubtedly make a huge difference to the lives of generations of children and their families in the years to come.
After touring the building with my ward colleague Councillor Gill Mitchell, I headed off to the monthly Get Together Group of Whitehawk and Manor Farm tenant reps. This month there were council officers there to tackle refuse and recycling, street lighting and housing issues.
Later I will be taking my seat at what promises to be a very long meeting of the full Council to discuss the proposals for transferring the council's housing stock which have been set out by the tenant's negotiating group in what's know as the "offer document".
Giving tenants a say in their homes
Council voted on Thursday to go ahead with the ballot of council tenants on whether or not to transfer the council's housing stock to the new, not-for-profit Gateway housing association. I spoke in the debate and voted in favour.
There are many thousands of council tenants in my ward, many of them living in houses and blocks that need a great deal of work to bring them up to standards that most of us would expect from our homes. For some, the ownership and management of those homes by the council is a matter of principle. For me, placing the ownership and management of social housing in the city with the tenants themselves is the best way forward, giving them the finances to pay for the work which needs doing, and the means to decide their own priorities. The decision now lies with the tenants themselves, it is up to them to weigh the facts and the options.
Communication work
Have taken delivery this morning of around five and a half thousand council newsletters to go out in my ward, keeping residents up to date with developments and news in their area. Last week residents told me that they miss the city council news magazine "City News", but hopefully this fills some of the gap! I will try at some point to get the newsletter published and linked on this site, with some back copies as well.
Tomorrow sees me back in the chair at the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum (10.30, Valley Social Centre, Whitehawk Way) where we will be hearing from the local fire station chief about community fire safety. Then on Thursday it's time for the Central Whitehawk Tenant's Association at 7pm again at the Valley, where we will no doubt be talking about the council/eb4U traffic calming measures in Haybourn Road. Otherwise, it's time to hit the streets with my bag of newsletters!
Whitehawk crime "lower than Patcham"
Police told the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum today that crime levels in the area were now "lower than in Patcham", with fewer than seventy recorded incidents last month. Community leaders at the Forum said this was proof that the work the Forum has done over many years is bearing fruit, and that the multi-agency approach bringing together regeneration bodies, police, council, voluntary and statutory agencies and local residents works. It's really good news and a credit to everyone involved with the Forum.
Subjects discussed today included fireworks and Halloween issues, motorcycle nuisance, domestic violence projects, and the new Crew Club and Children's Centre buildings, plus work by the Light Centre at St Cuthman's Church with offenders on probation.
Youth opportunity (includes video report)
It was a real pleasure yesterday to attend an event to celebrate the redecoration of the Whitehawk Youth Centre, opposite the library on Whitehawk Road. It's now much lighter and brighter, and yesterday morning was packed with young people enjoying their half-term break. There's a new kitchen and the activity rooms have a much more welcoming feel. The work was done as part of an ITV project, with support from volunteers from the business community and the Argus, who filmed a video report for their website, which you can watch here (though the interview with me ended up on the digital equivalent of the cutting room floor!) All involved should be applauded for a job well done.
I'm keen for the Youth Centre, the Crew Club and the Manor Road Gym to work together as far as possible to ensure all resources are used to the full and that no young person is missed out. All in all, with the addition of the new Children's Centre, there is real opportunity for young people in this part of East Brighton to have a positive start.
A busy week for community meetings, after Crime Prevention on Wednesday I went along to the Central Whitehawk tenants association last night (not to be confused with the South Central tenants association which met at the same time!). Tonight I will be back in Whitehawk for the North Whitehawk tenants and residents meeting.
Funding community projects
There are many local projects run for and often by the community in East Brighton, and getting sustainable funding is often a difficult and time consuming process, so it is good to hear that the city council is organising an information morning for local organisations to find out more about funding available for community development projects. The event is on Thursday November 2nd, from 11am to 12.15pm, at King’s House, Grand Avenue, Hove.
The information session will open the 2007–08 round of the City Council’s community development commissioning funding and representatives from all interested organisations are encouraged to attend. The session will provide an opportunity to find out more about the commissioning priorities and process. There will also be an opportunity to discuss ideas for project proposals on a one to one basis.
For further information contact the Voluntary Sector and External Funding Unit on 01273 295053.
Full details of the commissioning process, plus application forms and guidance notes will be available from November 1st, when the funding programme starts, at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/communitydevelopmentNew names on the Bristol Estate
Earlier tonight I went along to an event in the Bristol Estate community room marking the culmination of the arts project to name the low rise blocks in Donald Hall Road and the other streets on the hill behind the Sussex County hospital.
After months of consultation with residents, block names have been chosen along themes of trees, shrubs and herbs, and artists have been commissioned to provide four sets of name plate designs in ceramic, wood and metal. One lives on the estate herself. By giving the blocks a name it is hoped that a greater sense of identity will be fostered and through that community safety on the estate will improve.
The project is part of Brighton and Hove Arts Commission's "Making A Difference" initiative funded through the Urban Cultural Programme. Additional funding comes from the city council and "Awards For All".
Moving at the Manor
Things are starting to move at the Manor, the new name for the Manor Road Gym. Stopped off on my way back from the dentist this morning to see work underway to improve the building, install new showers and a meeting room, and make it accessible to disabled people.
A huge amount of effort by the local residents who now run the gym has made this possible, and with funding from eb4U community grants, the Scarman Trust and the Gannett Foundation, the gym has been able to kit itself out with sports equipment. The refurbishment is being funded with £97,000 of eb4U money and is due to be complete by Christmas.
For more information on The Manor call Marlene on 07835 849724 or e-mail marleneoliver@btinternet.com.
In case you are wondering, no fillings.