New challenges, ongoing issues and a dog show

After a week spent largely in local tenant and community meetings (including the Crime Prevention Forum) last week, this week it has been back to Hove Town Hall and Kings House for the start of the new council cabinet and scrutiny system. I have had various meetings and briefings with officers as part of my role as Chair of Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny, which meets next week, and today attended the first Environment Cabinet Member Meeting. It is going to take getting some getting used to, almost like when I started as a councillor five years ago.

Yesterday I went along to the first Housing Cabinet Member Meeting to ask the Cabinet member for Housing when the Craven Vale area will get a warden appointed. The reply was that the review of estate services which began last autumn is not due to conclude until November, but that the Albion Hill warden will cover the estate part time from next week. However this was what was promised when I asked the same question at full council in January.

In the meantime the day to day work goes on; this week I have got a bin replaced on Eastern Road, queried the repair of seating on Marine Parade, given advice on low flying helicopters, passed on information about funding to two local groups and dealt with a noise complaint.

This Saturday it is one of my favourite annual events in my ward, the East Brighton Dog Show. It starts at 10am in East Brighton Park and promises all of the usual competitions and categories that have drawn in ever larger numbers of entrants and spectators over the last four years. If you like dogs then come along and join in the fun.

Local scouts launch new website

Brighton Bygones

I spent a really pleasant afternoon yesterday as the guest speaker at the East Brighton Bygones local history group, with some of my family history prompting a discussion about bookmakers at the racecourse, the movement of whole communities from the Albion Hill area out to Whitehawk, and public baths in the town.

I had almost forgotten, until speaking to one lady who worked for the borough treasurer's department for many years, that my mother was an employee of the old Brighton Borough Council in what is now the newly refurbished Royal York Hotel, back in the 1960s. Her reason for leaving had something to do with me apparently!

I have rearely enjoyed an afternoon as much as I did with this very friendly and interesting group of people from across the city, and some who live outside but have roots in Whitehawk and elsewhere. They have a fascinating website at http://www.bygones.org.uk/ and you can make contact with them via their e-mail address on that site.

Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum

The Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum takes place again this Wednesday at 10.30am in the Valley Social Centre on Whitehawk Way. The main item this month is a consultation on proposals by City College to re-develop their Wilson Avenue site.

Also this week I will be meeting with the Craven Vale Over 50s group, and with police officers covering the Kemp Town, Craven Vale and Bristol Estate areas of my ward. If I can make it on Friday I will be going on a guided visit to the Neolithic camp on Whitehawk Hill between Craven Vale and the Racecourse.

Calling all Manor Farm residents

Our local community warden is currently knocking on doors in the Manor Farm area asking if people are interested in reviving the local community association there.

So far the response has been good, and I am keen that the association does start up again so that important local issues such as parking, housing development and anti-social behaviour can be tackled.

If you are a Manor farm resident and are interested in getting involved, or even just attending meetings to have your say, please contact me using my home page on the council's website.