Councillor Jason Kitcat unjustly criticises me over my handling of the Vernon Gardens Resource Centre report presented to the adult social care and health committee of Brighton and Hove City Council held on January 28 (Letters, February 8).

Coun Kitcat telephoned me about five minutes before the start of the meeting asking that he be allowed to speak. As there were three other members of the Green party in attendance at the meeting I advised him that he could be substituted for one of them or put his statement/questions to the meeting via his colleagues. It falls within the chairman's rights to decide, and I took legal advice on this matter, as to who, other than committee members, should be allowed to speak at such a late stage. As a perfectly reasonable person, I would have allowed him to speak if he had approached me with the reasons for his request earlier in the day.

Coun Kitcat also accuses the Conservative administration of wishing to deny councillors the right to speak when the proposed new constitution comes in to being.

This of course is also false.

Regarding the use of my chairman's casting vote at the above meeting it is beholden to me, as the lead councillor for adult social care and health, to make sure that the services that the council offers are safe for all residents and staff.

The Vernon Gardens Resource Centre currently offers residential and day care but while the care on offer is of very high quality, the physical environment is of a poor standard and the building has been deemed "not fit for purpose" by inspectors.

New government fire regulations mean that the council would have to spend in excess of £1.5 million on the building to continue delivering services at Vernon Gardens.

There are currently three other council-run resource centres in the city, and there is spare capacity at those centres as well as in the independent and voluntary sectors.

The high quality care services our clients currently receive at Vernon Gardens will continue, but in different buildings that are in much better condition.

The safety and well-being of vulnerable older people in the city is a major priority for us and we are committed to improving the range and quality of services we offer.