November 8th 2010 - meeting minutes

Loaves and Fishes sculpture by John Skelton, Brighthelm Church and Community Centre

Photo by Peter Crowhurst

Update on 50 Kensington Place

By Lynne Arnold, NLCA Secretary

Welcome to all, particularly new members.  Apologies were received from Anne Johnson, Geoff Mead and John Sharman.

Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

50 Kensington Place

This house became a Council-owned property in May 2007.  It required major refurbishment before it could be rented, which was too expensive for the Council to do easily.  As a result the property was left unrented.  A number of groups of squatters have been living there, vandalising a Grade 2 listed building, and have been a public nuisance to neighbours. The Council has a catalogue of broken promises regarding investing in this property.

Nick Hibberd, Head of Service for Housing, apologised for the failures and explained that the Council has a policy of not selling Council property, due to the great need in the city.  It has a plan to create a separate company to which the Council will lease the properties.  This company will then be able to borrow private funds to repair them and rent them to Council-appointed tenants.  This plan was going to cabinet and, if approved, would mean that the property would be refurbished by Spring/Summer.

The residents affected by this were unhappy with this party-line response. They felt unheard had no faith in the Council.  Nick Hibberd was invited back to our January meeting, when John Barradell would also be in attendance.

Brighton Belle and the Toy and Model Museum

The Brighton Belle, the 1934 all-electric Pullman train, will be returning in 2012 and will be running all over the Southern Railway network.  In honour of this the Toy and Model Museum had commissioned murals of the Belle.

Chris Littledale gave the meeting a history of the Toy and Model Museum and encouraged us all to discover or relive a unique part of toy history.

Summer Fête update

Teji Dhaliwal would be meeting with Phil Fryer, head of City College, to ask for the car park, or hall and Pelham Street.

The organising committee would be meeting on Thursday.

Planning and Licensing

Based on the Standing Orders agreed at the last meeting, only applications that have no precedent were discussed.

Planning

It was noted that there is a precedent that you do not need to make a planning application to replace single with double glazing.

There is a public consultation about the New England Quarter this week and about the proposals for The Level.

Licensing

The police have objected to the Trawlerman having a licence, on the basis that the North Laine has special problems.  This is the first time that we have heard them make this statement.

How to finance the NLCA

The meeting agreed to take the topic of finance to the next meeting.

Reports

There were no reports.

Social events

December meeting and social

The December NLCA meeting and social will be on 13th December at Komedia Studio, starting at 7.30pm.  There will be a business meeting from 7.30-8.00pm.  Food and drink will be provided by the NLCA.  Any prizes for the raffle would be gratefully received.

Peter Crowhurst would ask whether it is possible to have background music.

Theatre Group

The next theatre trip would be on 16th December to “The Cemetery Club” at the Little Theatre.  Those who would like to attend should contact Peter Crowhurst.

Any other business

Donation: The meeting agreed that the NLCA should donate £50 to a local alcohol and substance misuse charity.  Lynne Arnold would arrange this.

Late night alcohol noise: Kevin Daly offered to write an article and brief questionnaire for the January issue of the Runner, canvassing information about late night disturbances from residents.

Transport Review and Air Quality Action Plan Review: There was to be a public meeting on these at Calvary Church between 7-9pm on 2nd December.