merry seasonal wishes

merry seasonal wishes --
latest news:
the OCCUPY refugees in tents at the east of the chalets  broke in to hut 22 last night --
the sea front office have been told today-- they have been aware of the encampment for several days already and have been liaising with the police  and monitoring the situation --
happy xmas and new year.......................

Beach Chalet Survey - answers to Q5

Beach Chalet Survey - answers to Q5
COMMENT	NUMBER OF RESPONSES
No response	23
Keen to keep their chalet and want to use chalet indefinitely	19
Build more chalets	17
Thinks chalets are rarely used	13
There should be a fixed year agreement	11
Brighton and Hove residents only	10
Sharing should be permitted	9
Should be annual inspections	8
To be used not just for B & H residents	5
Want a meeting with tenants	5
Chalets need maintenance	5
Use price to move waiting list	4
No sub-lettings should be allowed	4
Don’t believe there is a high demand for chalets	3
Should chalets sell on long lease	3
Think the lottery idea is bad	2
Weekly use	2
Implement current policies	2
Think they have a legal right to remain	2
Would like a water supply	2
Other individual responses	6

10% rent rise -- again -- the pips will squeeze

green council will raise the rent again by 10% -- more for outsiders -- old flawed survey used to justify it -- council report does not include the actual survey results or comments made by responders -- see meeting agenda http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=35993

Beach Chalet Consultation

Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting
Tuesday, 6th December, 2011 4.00pm

FYI yellow wave Winter volleyball

the yellow wave  volleyball courts have made a planning application to install a huge temporary inflatable cover over half of their courts.

see http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9270591.Winter_volleyball_for_Brighton_/

tenants of the chalets (i.e. us) have not been consulted -- not a lot to object about, though? too noisy? too intrusive in a conservation area? blocks the view when on  Max Miller walk (it is higher than three story house)? -============

btw, today, it was the last day for the summer season eg: the lift is closed till next year

kids party today

kids party today -- seems to be going well (more kids than expected..|) -- profuse apologies if not:

use of this blog as a means of communication does not reach all, though and i must develop more eg letters under the doors of each hut....or proper e-mail address tree.....

summer is here -- birthday kids' party june 11th in hut 8

extended family birthday kids' party june 11th: noon to tears-time....

just in case neighbours to hut 8 wanted to know what was going on......

adults with be supervising -- Archie will be 4 years old on that day......

small business rate relief NDDR

recent letter from council dept. small business rate relief NDDR  say:
NO RATES TO BE PAID AGAIN THIS YEAR - thanks, david cameron, (cue for a lame quip...)

the closure of Madeira Drive 2011

SPECIAL EVENTS - Events requiring the closure of Madeira Drive 2011
This list is subject to change
DATE EVENT CLOSURE
Sun 20 February
Brighton & Hove Half
Marathon
Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1600 hrs
Sat 19 March
InCarNation * Aquarium to Black Rock 0.600 - 1800
Sun 20 March
Pioneer Motorcycle Run Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1700 hrs
Sun 10 April
Brighton Marathon Aquarium to Black Rock &
Partial Road Closure on
Saturday 9th April
Sun 17 April Jaguar Car Run LP9-LP20
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 1 May Historic Commercial Vehicle
Run
Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1900 hrs
Sat 7 May Children’s Parade Aquarium to base of Duke’s
Mound
0800- 1500 hrs
Sun 8 May MG Regency Run Aquarium to Duke’s Mound
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 15 May Mini Owners Rally Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 5 June Classic Car Run Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 19 June British Heart Foundation’s
London to Brighton Bike Ride
LP7-LP19 Sat 0600-Sun 0600 hrs
Aquarium to Black Rock, Sun
0400-2230 hrs
Sun 24 July Brighton Carnival LP10 - base of Duke’s Mound
0600 - 1800
Sat 10 Sept National Speed Trials Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1900 hrs
Sun 11 Sept Ace Café Reunion Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-2200 hrs
Sat 1 Oct Volkswagen Classic Run Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 2 Oct Landrover Run Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1800 hrs
Sun 9 Oct Brightona Aquarium to Black Rock
0600-1800 hrs
Sat 5 Nov Future Car Challenge Aquarium to Black Rock Sat
0.600 – 12.00
Sun 6 Nov Veteran Car Run LP7-12 and Dukes Mound to
Black Rock Sat 0600- Sun 0600
hrs
Aquarium to Black Rock,
Sun 0600-2200 hrs
Sun 20 Nov 10K Road Race Aquarium to Black Rock
0700 – 1300 hrs
83
Wed 21 Dec Burning the Clocks Aquarium to Black Rock
1600 – 2100 hrs
84

more break-in's

three chalets were broken into over the week-end.
i wonder if the cop CCTV saw anything?

survey extended and outcome delayed due to elections

all tenants will have got the letter dated 15th march (though delivered when?) that the survey has been extended and any outcome will be delayed due to elections. 

A faulty survey extends the faultiness..................

beach chalet policy consultation

  a verbal update on the beach chalet policy consultation with take place at the next Cabinet Member Meeting for Culture, Recreation and Tourism rather than a report on the agenda. the  meeting of the Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting is
Tuesday, 22nd March, 2011 4.00pm in Hove.

I understand from Simon Kirby MP, who got a letter from the Council about this, that "The survey was sent to 220 people in total as well as an on-line facility. We have received 85 completed hard copies of the survey with a further 30 completed on-line. This represents a response rate of about 38% which is a good response rate for a survey of this nature."

RE: CURRENT SURVEY

RE:   CURRENT SURVEY

I made a formal complain about this  survey viz:  “The Beach Chalet Letting Policy Survey has been limited to 28/01/11 09:00 to 11/02/11 17:00 -- the letter to tenants has only delivered on feb 4th. -- this breaches standard policy for the time allowed to duration -- and no pre-consultation with tenants as to introductory remarks or content of questions.:"

I had my conversation with Cllr David Smith after submitting my complaint.  I am thus hopeful that meaningful dialogue will continue.

Having said that, though, the issue (viz:  those residents of Saltdean on the Lewes side (east of Longridge Avenue) would be denied from applying for a hut )  is buried in the survey question 3 that emphasises " Do you think NON Brighton & Hove residents with existing tenancies should be allowed to continue to rent a chalet?"
-- that is a disgraceful leading question, as many "Brighton & Hove residents" do not realise that East Saltdean is NOT in B&H.
That  parochial agenda carefully fails to mention that much of B&H Council budget provides services to NON Brighton & Hove residents  eg parking! A simple extension to the boundaries allowing leaseholders to include East Saltdean post codes would be sufficient to temper that parochialism.

The Friends of Shoreham Beach (FoSB)

refreshing web-site, with nice pics on the flora and fauna ....
much more pleasant than analysing leases......

up date on the survey

I spoke to Cllr. David Smith yesterday (Wed.)  by phone, in reply to an  e-mail -- he  assures me that the survey is just the start of a dialogue, in which reps. from each of the 5 areas will meet with the council to discuss the matters raised.......

My ward Cll.  Paul Steedman (Green)  and Cllr. Melanie Davies (Lab. Spokesperson  on Seafront Matters)  both assured me that they would promote my view of the new status quo (viz: new tenants get 5 yrs., sitting tenants stay as they are with no attempt to evict) and to ensure meaningful dialogue with reps. to progress positive ways to reduce the perceived (no real evidence has been submitted) "long standing waiting lists."

i spoke to a beach-hutter from Ovingdean and he was angry at the survey's short-time scale and felt threatened by the whole tone.

Saltdean Residents’ Association  is asking for more beach huts in Saltdean.
----------------------------------------------------

we await the outcome of the survey and meetings for meaningful dialogue.........

fill in the survey and tell them what for

fill in the survey and tell them what for --
as one tenant told me:

"This survey is a 'politics of envy document',  clearly designed to gain support for an agenda already held by the council and councillors.
I do not accept it as substitute for a face-to-face meeting,  as promised by the committee on 7th Dec. 
No plan to evict exiting tenants can be morally justified and may not be legally possible.
Due to long useage I believe we have gained a legal 'right to remain' "

Beach Chalet Letting Policy Survey

see council web site -- we got the letters today feb 4th -- surely a breach of any normal consultation protocols --
it is a wind-up -- rush to evict -- no pre-consultation to consider content of the survey -- at least, the stones are ready to throw when the barricades are set up----

Beach Chalet Letting Policy Survey runs from 28/01/11 09:00 to 11/02/11 17:00