Brighton & Hove City Council
Cabinet
2.00pm16 October 2025
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
MINUTES
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Present: Councillor Sankey (Chair) Taylor (Deputy Chair), Alexander, Allen, Daniel, Miller, Muten, Robins, Rowkins, Williams, Hewitt and Robinson |
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Other Members present: Councillors
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PART ONE
43 Procedural Business
43a Declarations of interests
43.1 There were none.
43b Exclusion of the press and public
43.2 In accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act”), the Committee considered whether the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item of business on the grounds that it is likely in view of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during it, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act.
43.3 Resolved- That the public and press are excluded from the meeting from items listed on Part 2 of the agenda.
44 Minutes
44.1 Resolved- That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as the correct record.
45 Chair's Communications
45.1 The Chair provided the following Communications:
I'm really pleased to be introducing a range of items for discussion this afternoon that again outline ambitious and innovative policies being put forward by this Council to help drive growth boost economic activity and improve the quality of life and lives of our residents.
Our Get Sussex Working Plan is a fantastic example of the benefits of collaborating with our neighbouring authorities. It's a cross Sussex response to the government's Get Britain Working white paper with the ambitious aim of reducing economic inactivity and increasing local long-term employment to 80% by 2035. We know too many people are stuck in insecure, poor quality and often low paying work, while others are excluded from the jobs market altogether. We know that too many young people are leaving education without the skills they need to succeed and that too many employers are unable to fill their vacancies because of a combination of shortages in available labour and the necessary skills. There are still too many barriers that people must overcome, not only to find paid work, but to reach their potential, and we know some groups, such as women who provide care for their family still face unacceptable challenges staying in work and progressing in their careers. Following funding from our Labour government, our Get Sussex Working Plan will tackle those issues and reduce those barriers. Not only will this boost growth across Sussex, it will help us to reduce inequality, improve people's health and well-being and providing security and dignity, which should always come hand in hand with employment, it will also ensure more money and support is available for those who need it most, but are unable to work for whatever reason.
Earlier this month, I met with council leaders and other regional stakeholders and key figures from a range of local organisations for the inaugural meeting of a new partnership board, marking a key milestone in our journey towards devolution and establishing a mayoral combined county authority for Sussex and Brighton next May.
Devolution will bring influence on financial investment closer to our local community, so we can decide how to create jobs and affordable homes and deliver better integrated public transport. On that, I have no doubt there is so much we can achieve by working together with our neighbours and by taking advantage of the opportunities being created.
By devolution and the transfer of decision making and funding to our communities here in Brighton and Sussex, Sussex has so much to offer and to be proud of, and that stretches beyond the beyond the boundaries of our amazing city, from Chichester in the west to Rye in the east, from Crawley in the north.
To our fantastic community here in Brighton and Hove, a united Sussex is a force to be reckoned with. Together we can build on our collective strengths, celebrate our differences and make the most of this once in a generation opportunity. Creative thinking is undoubtedly one of this region and city strengths and our city is known worldwide as somewhere which will embrace innovation and balance protection for our local heritage with a modern and optimistic outlook.
As a Council, we're certainly bold in how we approach local challenges. One of our commitments as a Labour Council is to provide residents with somewhere safe and secure to live. That is the very least that people should expect, but unfortunately for many in our city, insecure or low-quality housing is a daily problem, which is why I am particularly proud of the decisive action being proposed by this Council to write this wrong today.
We're planning a bold and compassionate intervention to directly purchase temporary homes for homeless families. This significant move marks a shift in how we're using our resources. Prior prioritising people over property and placing vulnerable families at the heart of our housing strategy.
As part of a wider commitment to financial sustainability and social impact, we'll also maximise the use of our existing assets. The recommendations before you today is for the purchase of up to 200 additional temporary homes with an initial investment of £10 million.
These homes will offer greater flexibility than secure tenancies, allowing us to support families in transition and help them prepare for long term renting. No new eligibility criteria are being introduced. Instead, we will prioritise families most in need.
Everyone deserves safe and secure and affordable home, and this Council is defiant in its commitment to providing it.
Lastly, I'd like to highlight an agenda item which is only partly taking place in public this afternoon as an open and transparent Council. It's rare that we restrict access to proceedings and only when there are commercial sensitivities which compel us to do so. This item relates to women's sport and our determination to continue to do all we can to build on this city's growing reputation as a champion of elite women's sport and a hub for active grassroots participation.
We know the positive impact that staging and promoting international sporting events here in Brighton can have on residents and businesses. It boosts our economy, inspires our residents and brings our communities together. We've seen it before when we hosted the Lionesses during their triumphant EURO campaign.
And we're seeing it again following our success at the host city for the recent women's Rugby World Cup. We're keen to further understand the potential for building on Brighton & Hove’s growing reputation as a sporting city. To do that, we need to explore other opportunities for hosting elite level competition and how we can continue to develop the local legacy already established.
By being home to the most brilliant Premier League football club that we have and hosting previous international sporting events, this is at an early stage. But as plans develop, we will be able to update residents.
46 Call Over
46.1 All items on the agenda were reserved for discussion.
47 Public Involvement
(b) Public Questions
1) Housing Supply and Asset Management plan
47.1 Pippa Burley read the following question:
“Is the Cabinet aware that 3/3a Bond Street Cottages is occupied by the Sussex County Arts Club, which is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers that has offered uniquely priced art sessions since 1944, from these same buildings, and can the Cabinet offer us assurances that any agreement they reach with a prospective purchaser will include suitable covenants, as is being offered to independent retailers, to preserve our institution and protect us from eviction or unsupportable rent increases”.
47.2 Councillor Taylor provided the following reply:
Thank you, Pippa, for coming today and thank you to other members of the Arts Club for also coming today, including one of my neighbours on my street that I've just noticed in the audience. It's a really important question. I want to answer it directly to everybody here.
The last thing that we want to let happen or will happen is risk the future of the Arts Club in this location. We have to be really clear. One of the reasons that Brighton & Hove is special, one of the reasons that I live here and bring up my kids here and indeed one of my parents moved here is the special nature of this city. It's creative sector and it's not-for-profit. So absolutely, we are now going to work with you. I would say that I think the Council probably haven't handled the communications well, so we want to apologise for that. You should have been given better notice. I think this could have avoided some of the upsetting concern that many of your members have about the future. What we will be doing as I've responded publicly and to you, Pippa, is that officers will now engage with you and work out how we can either extend your lease for a much longer time to give you security or work through a covenant or a transfer to ensure that you guys can stay there and continue offering that unique and amazing service and make up that unique character of the of that part of town. So, thank you for your question.
2) E-scooter proposal for Brighton & Hove
47.3 Mark Strong read the following question:
“Cabinet is discussing an e-scooter hire trial in the city. As Community Works rep, I have received messages about this (both supportive and critical), including safety concerns. There are clearly many detailed issues to be discussed, which will require a full engagement process. However, this appears to be focused on the council seeking feedback from key stakeholders (including TTP members and major employers) rather than a more collaborative approach. There is no reference to discussions with CVS groups which represent localities or communities of interest. Consultation with the wider public is only proposed after the submission of an application for a trial. This refers to “residents, businesses, and visitors” with no mention of community groups. I would like to ask whether an explicit commitment can be included to working directly with community groups at both stages of the process, e.g. a meeting with groups as part of the first stage.
47.4 Councillor Muten provided the following reply:
Thank you, Mark, for your question and as the Community Works rep, highlighting the importance of safety for all in our new micro-mobility proposal.
Safety and due care and attention is central to our proposal. This is why will not proceed with any trial until we undertaken a public consultation and engaged with community groups including representatives from the disability advocacy groups as well as our partners on the Transport and Travel Partnership – in which you attend representing Community Works. May I stress therefore there will be many opportunities to feedback into the design and detail of the proposed scheme.
The paper coming to today’s Cabinet meeting is to ask whether to proceed with an application to the central government for a licence to trial e-scooters within careful boundaries set out to protect the rider and the wider public; especially the more vulnerable in our communities. Having permission to proceed does not necessarily mean we will proceed. It means we can proceed. Over the course of the coming months, we will engage and we will listen.
Subject to approval today, the application to the Department for Transport will be submitted and public consultation will commence. Importantly, the DfT has confirmed that there is no obligation to proceed with the trial even if our application is approved as the final decision will rest with Cabinet and will be informed by the outcomes of wider public engagement.
48 Issues Raised by Members
48.1 A copy of the questions received was circulated ahead of the meeting. Responses provided both at the meeting and in writing are as follows:
1. Councillor Meadows- Get Sussex Working Plan
Given unemployment has risen considerably since central Government has come in, how will this plan mitigate the effects of higher inflation and significantly higher National Insurance contributions from employers? The NI increase, resulting in employers laying off staff or not recruiting at all, coupled with higher inflation, are the two key factors in Sussex not working.
Response: Cllr Daniel
The UK employment rate has remained largely stable but it is right to say that the rate of unemployment has risen slightly in Summer 2025.At the same time the value of wages of those who are employed have slightly increased. It is difficult to use the ONS statistics with great certainty as they themselves warn given weighting used during pandemic times and some volatility in the data over the last 12 months.
Given the challenges with that data its hard to argue there is hard evidence that NI has had an impact on these figures although the OBR forecast a small impact of 0.1% on productivity.
What needs to be balanced against this policy is the impact on the economy of over a decade of public service cuts causing huge waiting lists on the NHS and people unable to work because they are waiting for treatment, a lack of support services to individuals and business. These are areas that the Labour government is proudly investing in and making an enormous difference on:
· Employment support for people who need help to access training and work which is the policy before us today
· Millions of additional hospital appointments and action to reduce waiting lists as well as a real plan to truly update access to NHS.
· An increase in free childcare for working parents from last month worth up to £7500 to those households each year meaning their standard of living is going up in real terms.
It has also set out a growth strategy to support job creation and whilst there is a volatile international context to deliver that within we are forecast to have the second fastest growing economy in the G7. Which demonstrates an end to the chaotic decline and neglect of the Tory Government and a true move to a more secure economy with secure jobs.
2. Councillor McNair- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
Will this scheme encourage the uptake of illegal scooters?
Response: Cllr Muten
Thank you, Cllr McNair, for your question.
Private e-scooters are illegal, and e-scooters will remain illegal on the public highway during new trials, so a trial of hire scooters presents a legal option for visitors and residents which is accountable and regulated, run by an experienced operator. It would reduce demand for private e-scooters by providing a safer alternative which would be legal on the local public highway. Within this trial, anyone who wants to try an e-scooter can do so legally, and we take the view that most people do not wish to engage with criminal behaviour as part of their travel choices. This is expected to marginalise, and therefore, discourage the illegal use e-scooters.
3. Councillor McNair- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
How will the council stop scooters riding through red lights and riding on pavements?
Response: Cllr Muten
Thank you, Cllr McNair, for your question.
The Highway Code is clear. Passing through a red light as a rider or driver is illegal. There have been some updates to the Highway Code recently and anyone who hold a driving licence is advised to ensure they keep up to date.
Unlike our bike hire offer, you will have to hold a driving licence to hire an e-scooter as part of our proposed trial. Furthermore, each e-scooter will have a number plate.
Further, all new users will be required to complete online training when signing up. The Council will also offer optional in-person training sessions for a fee.
Riders must present a provisional or full drivers’ license when they sign up, and those licenses will be checked on an ongoing randomised basis.
Where there is evidence of breach of traffic rules – such as passing through a red light, we can work with Sussex Police to take appropriate reasonable recourse.
This more rigorous approach may well encourage other road users, including cyclists and motor vehicle drivers, not to jump red lights.
4. Councillor Meadows- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
What makes the council scheme e-scooters safer than illegal e-scooters? Advising helmets are worn is a totally insufficient suggestion.
Response; Cllr Muten
Thank you, Cllr Meadows, for your question.
Merely putting a helmet on would be clearly insufficient. This is why we are working with a responsible provider – Beryl – with whom established a trusted working relationship. Our proposed trial scheme will have significant safety features including a requirement to hold a driving licence – provisional or full; speed restrictions, numberplates, front and back lights, night curfews and lowers speed, geofenced limits to ensure no hired e-scooters in certain locations such the promenade, undercliff, pavements, and other areas, including no use within event spaces, and introduced only in part of the city.
In terms of helmets, to encourage their use, the operator will offer incentives to riders who provide evidence of wearing helmets. This is a good thing.
In addition, a targeted campaign will focus on younger riders, highlighting the role helmets play in preventing some of the most serious types of head injuries.
Our trial includes several other proposed safety measures, which will be outlined in the upcoming consultation for public feedback.
Here are a few key elements:
1. Pavement riding will be prohibited, and carrying passengers will not be allowed.
2.
The hire zone will include timed ‘no-go’ areas, such as
George Street in Hove and Gardner Street in Brighton, as well as
24-hour no-go zones, including Cranbourne Street, the Undercliff,
and the cliff-top routes between the Marina and Saltdean. Temporary
no-go zones may also be introduced for major events like
Pride.
3.
All new users will be required to complete online training when
signing up. The Council will also offer optional in-person training
sessions for a fee.
4. Riders must present a provisional or full drivers’ license when they sign up, and those licenses will be checked on an ongoing randomised basis.
A well designed and regulated legal trial scheme is a safer framework for all.
5. Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex
What is this report on Women’s football about as we've been denied access?
Response: Cllr Robins
As detailed in the Part 1 report, the promotion of elite sporting events in the city has demonstrated clear benefits for health and active lifestyle outcomes. The Part 2 report includes some commercially sensitive areas that are currently in early stages of development and cannot be shared more broadly at this time. Should these plans progress, additional reports will be shared, providing an opportunity for all parties to contribute to shaping future direction.
6. Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex
Is this £1m expenditure for a new training ground for women's football. If so, is that expenditure within Brighton and Hove's city limits? Where is it going to be built?
Response: Cllr Robins
The report is not about a training ground for women’s football.
7. Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex
If it is to be built outside the city limits, why is the council paying for it?
Response: Cllr Robins
The report is not about a training ground for women’s football.
8. Councillor Sykes – TBM Month 5
What is the current CT collection success rate in-year and how has this changed over the past 2 years?
Response: Cllr Taylor
At September, the collection rate over the past couple of years was in 20/23. It was 51.67% in 2024, it was 50.88%. In 2025 it was 50.92%. So it's slightly better than last year and slightly worse than two years ago.
It's worth worth knowing how that overall we measure our collection rate based on ultimate collection rate, which can obviously be a number of years on from the point on which it would be owed. And our target is 98.75%, but usually it takes between three and five years to get to that target rate.
9. Councillor Sykes – TBM Month 5
To the background of the difficult financial circumstances of the council in which we are permanently under spending and recruitment freezes, the Administration continues to commit to substantial additional revenue spend commitments that are essentially discretionary, such as early Local Government Reorganisation, a less economic /more expensive option for the new King Alfred Centre, and new senior staff roles to support the political Cabinet. Is this a sustainable approach?
Response: Cllr Taylor
Thank you for the question. Again, I think to say on that one, it's obviously a balance- everybody knows in this room that the Council is in a very difficult financial position. That's what we've got in TBM 5 on the report later. That's why we're looking at some asset disposals in a separate report. That's why we're looking at investing in housing to tackle homeless crisis.
What we then have to say as a Council is, does that mean that we sort of hunker our heads down and try not to do anything sort of positive or aspirational for the city? I don't think that's a good approach. I think we do have to keep investing. One of the reasons the city is in a tricky point is we probably didn't do very well in that 2010's austerity period with our assets. The King Alfred is an interesting one that, as you point out on behalf of Councillor Sykes. Indeed we have ended up picking up a more expensive option, although actually we think the economic case in terms of returns is better. So, the financial modelling suggests we'll make more income from building a slightly better facility. So look, it's a balance and ultimately the public will end up judging us on whether we've got the balance right between investing in future assets, trying to take the city forward and also managing our revenue budgets. Local Government Reorganisation is obviously a national process that all areas will have to go through and so, as you said, we've gone for devolution as quickly as possible because we think that the devolution parts of it, having a mayor for Sussex and the funding that comes from that will actually help our local area in terms of its vibrancy and economy, but ultimately also receipts into the Council.
What are the administration's plans for closed school buildings that are costing us an extra £200k of revenue funding this year to maintain?
Response: Cllr Taylor
We are working hard to re-purpose or sell surplus properties to ensure that these generate either revenue savings for the Council or capital receipts.
11. Councillor Sykes- TBM Month 5
What is a 'functional alignment saving' (p409) and does the underachievement of this saving by nearly £1 million this year have any lessons or implications for savings expected under Local Government Reorganisation?
The functional alignment savings were targeted as part of a previous budget setting process. This was about looking at areas of spend across the council such as administrative roles. These are now being wrapped up into updated savings proposals that will come to Cabinet in December, rather than being a separate line. The LGR process is not expected to generate significant savings for Brighton and Hove City Council as the Council already operates on a unitary footprint.
12. Councillor West - E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
Research shows many issues of concern have been identified in e-scooter trials. E-scooter trial problems include injuries to users and pedestrians, especially vulnerable groups like the visually impaired, due to dangerous riding, poor infrastructure, and a lack of awareness about the speed and quietness of e-scooters. Pavement obstruction from parked rental scooters, illegal use of private scooters, and a lack of clear legislation have also been reported, causing safety concerns and social exclusion. A government evaluation of scooter trials also showed a high modal shift of over 50% from walking and cycling, leading to concern over the impact upon fitness and health. Given the considerable weight of concerning evidence of negative impacts of e-scooter trials, how does the administration assure that these issues won’t occur here too?
Response: Cllr Muten
Thank you, Cllr West, for your question.
You raise several important points which are central to our thinking the in the design of our scheme and choice of a responsible partner – Beryl – with whom we have developed a trusted working relationship with and has demonstrated a high standard in their trials elsewhere.
We’ve gained valuable insights from the breadth of UK e-scooter trials to date, and the latest evidence reflecting adjustments to some initial practices is broadly positive.
We have no intention to race to the bottom with this. Far from it, putting the infrastructure in to protect and make it safer is central to our design and thinking.
Obstruction has been a recurring issue in trials that used a free-floating parking model. To address this, we propose installing dedicated racks at existing hubs on footways and corrals on the carriageway to reduce street clutter and minimise obstructions. Riders who leave scooters outside designated parking areas will be subject to fines.
Design will be consistent with our Accessibility Strategy and associated policies – including for instance pavement width at mobility hubs. To ensure accessibility, we will invite a local disability organisations and advocates to independently audit any pavement sites where new racks could reduce the usable width to below two metres. We are committed to avoiding barriers to walking and wheeling and will seek to amend or look alternative locations where concerns are identified.
The Operator anticipates that cycling may also benefit from this trial. Evidence from the Beryl scheme in Norwich suggests that e-bike hires increased following the introduction of e-scooters. The indication is that e-scooters attract new users who may not initially be interested in cycling, but who once introduced to shared mobility and may go on to explore other options available through their Beryl membership.
The paper coming today sets out the proposed e-scooter trial also draws on findings from the 2024 COMO UK Shared Micromobility Report. COMO UK is the national accreditation body for shared mobility.
According to their report, around 26% of e-scooter journeys in UK cities typically replace trips that would have been made on foot. However, this shift is offset by the greater carbon savings achieved when scooters replace car journeys. In many areas, these savings have compensated for the reduction in walking trips.
The report also highlights key health benefits associated with shared micro-mobility.
I’ll outline our approach to supporting police enforcement of illegal scooter use in response to the next question.
13. Councillor West- TBM Month 5
With 26% of the current year's substantial package of budget savings at risk of not being delivered (para 3.2), how confident are Cabinet that the measures they are taking will resolve this, and how credible does Cabinet believe the Council’s ability is to deliver up the humongous savings targets projected for the next three years?
Response: Cllr Taylor
Financial recovery plans are being worked up to ensure the Council can achieve financial balance for 2025/26. Good progress has been made in reducing the projected overspend so far, but there is still a long way to go. The Council’s future budget gap is driven by huge increases in demand for statutory services, particularly adults and children’s social care and temporary accommodation. I agree that this will be a very challenging gap to close.
14. Councillor West- TBM Month 5
Para 3.6 lists other options being explored, including the alarming suggestion of stopping “non-essential services” and using up risk provision. What seems to be missing throughout this is the most obvious question of asking the Government to stop austerity and to instead fund a restoration of local authority services that are vital to the well-being of our communities and economy. Why is that action seemingly not included in the Cabinet report?
Response: Cllr Taylor
I know you know stopping non-essential services is obviously something you will understand as that would include shutting toilets like you guys did and obviously we reopened them. That’s the sort of thing that we've been avoiding and want to avoid in our Administration.
In terms of austerity and I've spent time explaining it in quite a lot of depth to you at Audit & Standards Committee but perhaps that wasn’t received so I'll have another go.
Last year's settlement from government as an overall financial package for the general fund, taking into account our tax base and our funding from government went up £16 million. That was a six or seven percent increase. So that was a real terms increase in funding. I think that's higher than the national level of inflation last year. This year, we've yet to see the final outcome of the fair funding review. But in our medium term financial plan, again it's going up by fifteen, sixteen percent. So as I've tried to explain, that is not austerity, our funding is going up in real terms. I think you need to understand what austerity means.
The Increases that we're getting causing the issue is set out in the paper on the agenda and I would hope most councillors would understand is our demand pressures, our demand pressures from homelessness, adult social care and children's services. So, it's not a matter of our funding being cut, it's a matter of the complexity and demand on our care budget services going up very, very significantly and as a Council we have to find ways to mitigate and manage that. Now underlying your question is well, why aren't you lobbying the government? We're lobbing the government all the time. I think we're constantly lobbing the government to think about how fair funding will work properly. And indeed, I think at your last committee that you chaired, I got out some of the examples of where we're lobbying them. We think they should be calculating their homelessness grant differently and basing it on homelessness numbers, not Universal Credit claimants. There's a whole wide range of things that we're feeding into to ensure we get the fair funding that we need as a Council, but even when we get that fair funding, we will still have to look at those care budgets and that is what the challenge that the authority faces and what we're working through. I haven't really heard many questions from the Greens about how we tackle those challenges. I don't think they're really engaging in it to be honest, but that is the formal answer. We're not getting austerity. We have complex demand budgets that we need to work through to make sure the authority is sustainable.
15. Councillor McLeay- Housing Supply & Asset Management
What safeguards are in place to ensure disposals do not undermine long-term community or service needs?
Response: Cllr Taylor
The Asset Management Plan sets out the objectives and actions for the ongoing strategic management of the council’s land and buildings. It supports the outcomes of the Council Plan, helps achieve the priority objectives and delivery of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy whilst ensuring the effective management of risk within the portfolios. The objectives of the Asset Management Plan include ensuring assets meet service need, which includes the needs of the community. Any proposal for disposal will be aligned to the objectives of the Asset Management Plan to ensure a balanced and holistic approach to decision making.
16. Councillor McLeay- Housing Supply & Asset Management
How will the 25% reduction in maintenance costs be achieved without compromising safety or service delivery?
As set out in the Asset Management Plan it will be achieved by rationalising our operational property estate. This is not about slashing maintenance or Health & Safety budgets. The council owns a large amount of property that it holds for operational purposes at significant cost. The proposal for a 25% reduction in operational property costs is a target for us to aim towards perhaps aspirational, but one that succinctly articulates the absolute need for us to reduce these operational property costs to support our medium-term budget planning and protect the delivery of services.
By reducing our operational estate we can better ensure the safety and compliance of properties retained with the resources we have available. A future review of the operational estate will focus on achieving delivery of service from a reduced portfolio.
17. Councillor Hill– E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
Will steps be taken in conjunction with this trial to curb illegal e-scooter usage which is already prevalent in the city?
Response: Cllr Taylor
Thank you, Cllr Hill, for your question.
You are absolutely right to highlight illegal use of private e-scooters as a ongoing concern. E-scooters are illegal. Private e-scooter will remain illegal during any trial. Nobody should be driven to criminality to try out a micro-mobility option proven to curb car use.
I’d like to outline the additional steps the Council is taking to support Sussex Police in their planned enforcement activity beyond those already mentioned.
In 2024, there were 33 reported e-scooter collisions across Sussex—all involving private scooters used illegally on the public highway. This represented approximately 3% of the national total. That same year, in other UK towns and cities running official trials, private scooters accounted for around three-quarters of all recorded scooter collisions.
Working in partnership with the Council, Sussex Police have already carried out several enforcement operations in the city this year, including vehicle seizures and issuing fines. The Council’s Transport and Trading Standards teams are currently working in partnership with East Sussex Fire & Rescue to further support police efforts in tackling illegal e-scooter use. In these partnerships, we are clamping down on illegal e-scooter use and will continue to do so, including should we proceed with a legal e-scooter trial.
With our partners, we are planning an advertising campaign for November, focusing on four key messages. These will be promoted via social media and at a central city event timed to coincide with increased police enforcement activity. As in previous years, our Christmas messaging will aim to discourage the gifting of private e-scooters and will follow a similar format to past campaigns.
49 Matters Referred to the Executive
49.1 There were none.
50 Representations from Opposition Members
50.1 Cabinet received a representation from Councillor Hill on Item 53: E-Scooter Trial Proposal for Brighton & Hove
50.2 Cabinet received a representation from Councillor McLeay on Item 55: Housing Supply & Asset Management Plan
51 Get Sussex Working Plan
51.1 Cabinet considered a report that requested approval of the Get Sussex Working Plan.
51.2 Councillors Robinson, Robins, Taylor and Miller asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
51.3 Resolved-
1) That Cabinet formallyapproves the Get Sussex WorkingPlan
2) That Cabinet approves continued participation in the already established and informally constituted Partnership Group to overseedelivery of the Plan until such time as new governance structures may be set up, should a new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) be established.
52 Devolution for Sussex & Brighton
52.1 Cabinet considered a report that requested approval for the next stages in creating a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex & Brighton.
52.2 Councillors Muten, Williams, Rowkins Taylor, Miller, Muten, Robins, Allen and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.
52.3 Resolved-
1) That Cabinet notes the content of this report including the effect of the Statutory Instrument and the assessment of the implications for Brighton & Hove City Council of creating a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex & Brighton.
2) That Cabinet confirms its approval in principle to consenting to devolution and delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to undertake all steps necessary to provide consent on behalf of the Council to the Statutory Instrument that the Government proposes to lay before Parliament to create a new Mayoral Combined County Authority in the Sussex and Brighton region.
3) That Cabinet approves the procurement of the mayoral booklet services outlined in 6.13 of the report and grants delegated authority to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Director Governance and Law to:
i. Take all steps necessary or incidental to undertake the procurement process;
ii. Award the framework agreement and any respective call-off contracts and take all steps necessary or incidental to recover the costs incurred from the MCCA.
53 E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove
53.2 Councillors Williamms, Robinson, Miller, Daniel, Robins, Sankey and Rowkins asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
53.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees to the Council applying to the Department for Transport for permission to begin a new e-scooter trial in 2026 as an add-on to the current bikeshare scheme.
2) Cabinet agrees for an e-scooter consultation to take place alongside the application and for the results of the consultation to be reported back with full financial analysis for approval on the way forward.
54 Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2025/26 Month 5 (August)
54.1 Cabinet considered a report that set out an indication of forecast risks as at Month 5 on the council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2025/26.
54.2 Councillors Sankey, Taylor, Daniel and Williams asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
54.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet notes the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a potential forecast overspend risk of £9.406m.
2) Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the separate Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an overspend of £1.192m.
3) Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an overspend of £2.843m.
4) Cabinet notes the forecast position on the Capital Programme which is an underspend variance of £5.901m.
5) Cabinet approves the capital budget variations and re-profiling requests set out in Appendix 6.
6) Cabinet approves the new capital schemes requested in Appendix 7.
7) Cabinet notes the Treasury Management update as set out in Appendix 8 and summarised in paragraph 9.
8) Cabinet notes the strategic decisions being considered to reshape the city’s approach to temporary accommodation and establish long-term financial sustainability and that reports outlining these proposals in detail will be presented to Cabinet for consideration at a future date.
9) Cabinet agrees to extend existing and future lease arrangements for Temporary Accommodation to at least 10 years and 1 day where appropriate, and delegate authority to Corporate Director – Homes & Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to implement.
10) Cabinet agrees the set of Strategic Aims in Appendix 9 for the purpose of Direct Offers, in effect until 31 March 2026 and reviewed in January 2026.
55 Housing Supply and Asset Management Plan
55.1 Cabinet considered a report sought approval to the appropriation for housing purposes or disposal of various properties as well as approval of the Asset Management Plan.
55.2 Councillors Sankey, Allen, Williams, Taylor, Miller, Muten, Rowkins and Robins asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
55.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet approves the Asset Management Plan and the financial targets within the plan (£50m capital receipts by 2030 and a 25% reduction in the Council’s operational property maintenance costs).
2) Cabinet agrees to the appropriation for housing purposes or disposal of the properties identified at paragraphs 3.7 to 3.23 of this Part 1 report together with the further properties set out in Part 2 report in the manner set out in this report.
3) Cabinet agrees that the priorities for the City Downland Estate are considered as part of the capital programme and the proceeds from disposals of properties in the City Downland Estate are used to fund these priorities or any other priorities based on the council’s Corporate Plan.
4) Cabinet agrees to the purchase of 8 flats at Freehold Terrace, Brighton, BN2 4AB on a freehold basis for a sum to be negotiated up to the maximum set out in Part 2 report.
5) Cabinet agrees to the purchase of 5 flats at Beech Grove, Brighton, BN2 4TN on a freehold basis for a sum to be negotiated up to the maximum set out in the Part 2 report.
6) Cabinet agrees to the purchase of 6 flats at Vaughan Williams Way, Rottingdean BN2 7GB on a freehold basis for a sum to be negotiated up to the maximum set out in the Part 2 report.
7) Cabinet approves an HRA capital budget of £4.749m inclusive of all fees and statutory taxes to be funded by HRA Borrowing and commuted sums for the purchase of the above properties.
8) Cabinet delegates authority to;
· Director Property & Finance in consultation with the Director Governance & Law and the Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration to approve terms and take any necessary steps to facilitate and complete the appropriation for housing purposes or disposals of the properties at the best consideration reasonably obtainable identified at paragraphs 3.7 to 3.23 and in the Part 2 report.
· Corporate Director Homes & Adult Social Care in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes to take the steps necessary to agree and complete: (a) the purchase of the 19 flats on the terms set out in the Part 2 paper and (b) any other relevant ancillary legal and financial documents necessary to deliver the project and give effect to recommendations 2.4-2.6.
9) Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director Homes & Adult Social Care to take the steps necessary to agree future acquisitions for the supply
of affordable housing in consultation with:
· the Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes, for acquisitions with a value between £500k and £3 million.
· the Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes, the Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration and the Director for Finance and Property, for acquisitions with a value between £3 million and £10 million.
10) Cabinet approves £10 million of capital receipts to be ringfenced for the provision of temporary accommodation.
56 Women's football in Sussex
56.1 Cabinet considered a report that outlined the significant positive benefits of hosting major international sports competitions in the city and empower officers to actively pursue similar projects.
56.2 Councillors Hewitt, Miller, Rowkins and Robins contributed to the debate of the report.
56.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees that international sport, and specifically Women’s sport is a great asset to the city and has produced positive outcomes for our residents.
2) Cabinet agrees to empower officers to actively seek future opportunities for the city and work with national and local partners to continue to expand Brighton & Hove’s reputation as a premier international destination.
57 Housing Supply and Asset Management Plan (Exempt Category 3)
57.1 As per the Part One report.
58 Women's football in Sussex (Exempt Category 3)
As per the Part Two minutes.
59 Part Two Proceedings
59.1 Resolved- That Cabinet agreed that the confidential items listed on the agenda remain exempt from disclosure to the press and public.
The meeting concluded at 6.20pm
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