Cabinet
2.00pm 12 February 2026
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
decision list
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Part One |
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125
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General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2026-27
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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Resolved to recommend: That Cabinet recommends to Council the following: 1) That Council approves the Administration’s proposed General Fund revenue and capital budget and Council Tax increase on the Brighton and Hove element of the council tax for 2026/27, comprising: i) A general Council Tax increase of 2.99%; ii) An Adult Social Care Precept increase of 2.00%; iii) The council’s net General Fund budget requirement for 2026/27 of £341.476m; iv) The 2026/27 budget allocations to services as set out in Appendix 1 incorporating budget savings proposals detailed at Appendix 2; v) The one-off resource allocations as set out in the table at paragraph 6.8; vi) A recommended working balance of between £12.000m to £15.000m (approximately 4% of the net budget) to be maintained over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. 2) That Council approves the changes to Fees & Charges set out in Appendix 3 that relate to any non-executive functions which have not already been approved.
3) That Council notes that Exceptional Financial Support of £15.000m has been requested from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to assist with the setting of a legally balanced budget in 2026/27;
4) That Council notes the plans to address future projected budget shortfalls set out in the 4-Year Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix 4.
5) That Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2026/27 at Appendix 5 comprising: i) Funding for investment in transformation and change, supported by the flexible use of capital receipts as set out in paragraph 11.2; ii) The capital resources and proposed borrowing included at Annex A of the Capital Strategy; iii) The Capital Investment Programme for 2026/27 of £239.816m included at Appendix 5 incorporating allocations to strategic funds. 6) That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as set out in Appendix 6 comprising: i) The Annual Investment Strategy; ii) The Prudential and Treasury Indicators; iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision policy; iv) The authorised borrowing limit for the year commencing 1 April 2026.
7) That Council notes and considers the Equalities Impact Assessments to cover all relevant budget proposals as set out in Appendix 7.
8) That Council approves serviced accommodation to be an exception to the council tax premium determination for second homes as described in Section 16 and Appendix 8.
9) That Council further notes that approval of the budget is an indicative resourcing decision to be taken in the context of the explanation given in the Legal Implications in Section 20.
10) That Council notes that supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax, including a detailed Budget Book, will be provided for the Budget Council meeting as listed in paragraph 14.1.
Resolved-
That Cabinet agrees:
11) The changes to Fees & Charges set out in Appendix 3 that relate to executive functions
12) That the council’s S151 Chief Financial Officer be authorised to make any necessary technical, presentational or consequential amendments to this report before submission to Budget Council.
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126
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Budget & Capital Investment HRA Programme 2026-27 and Medium[1]Term Financial Strategy
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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That Cabinet:
1) Approves a rent increase of 4.8% in line with government legislation as detailed in paragraph 3.12 of the report.
2) Approves a 5% rent increase for all new and re-let tenants, in accordance with the rent flexibility policy as set out at paragraph 3.10 of the report.
3) Approves the service charges and fees as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.
4) Notes the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and 30-year financial projections shown in Appendix 4 to the report.
5) Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the HRA Revenue Budget for 2025/26 as outlined in table 1 of the main report and Appendix 1.
6) Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the new Capital Programme Budget of £79.640m for 2026/27 be agreed as part of the revised capital budget of £126.339m (which includes reprofiles of £46.699m from 2025/26).
7) Notes and recommends to Full Council approval of the earmarking of £1m reserves against disrepair claims for 2026/27.
8) Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the 5-year capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.
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127
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Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 2025/26 Month 9 (December)
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Contact Officer: |
James Hengeveld |
Tel: 01273 291242 |
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet notes the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a potential forecast overspend risk of £4.861m.
2) Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the separate Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an overspend of £0.846m.
3) Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an overspend of £2.388m.
4) Cabinet approves deferring the planned reserve repayment of £1.125m in 2025/26 (paragraphs 4.10 and 7.8)
5) Cabinet approves the release of unrequired Reserves and Provisions of £1.109m (paragraphs 4.10 and 7.9)
6) Cabinet notes the forecast position on the Capital Programme which is an underspend variance of £7.714m.
7) Cabinet approves the capital budget variations and re-profiling requests set out in Appendix 6.
8) Cabinet approves the new capital schemes requested in Appendix 7.
9) Cabinet notes the Treasury Management update as set out in Appendix 8 and summarised in paragraph 8.
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128
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Transport Capital and Maintenance Programme 2026-27
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Contact Officer: |
Colin Harwood |
Tel: 01273 293856 |
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet agrees the £8.801m 2026/27 Local Transport Grant capital budget is allocated as set out in Table 2.
2) Cabinet agrees to delegate authorisation of submissions to the Department for Transport on outline delivery proposals for 2027-2030 to the Corporate Director for City Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport & City Infrastructure.
4) Cabinet agrees the 2026/27 Safer Better Streets priority schemes as set out in Appendix 3.
5) The Cabinet gives delegated authority to the Corporate Director for City Operations, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport & City Infrastructure, to finalise the updated Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) route prioritisation (Appendix 4) following engagement with members of the Transport & Travel Partnership and to use scheme development funding according to this prioritisation.
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130
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A259 (King’s Road) Seafront Highway Structures (‘Arches’) Phases 4& 5
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Contact Officer: |
Nick Bean |
Tel: 01273 290227 |
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director City Operations with consultation with the cabinet member to submit the completed Full Business Case (See Appendix 1) for the Phases 4 and 5 Scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT) for approval and release of the Major Road Network (MRN) Funds amounting to £22.2 million.
2) Subject to approval of the Full Business Case for the release of the MRN Funds by the DfT to the Council, Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director City Operations with consultation with the cabinet member to take all steps necessary to implement the Phases 4 and 5 Scheme including to award the two suitable construction contracts for the Phases 4 and 5 Scheme to the preferred bidders of Knights Brown Construction Limited and to enter into the contracts and any associated warranties and documents..
3) Cabinet approves a Capital budget for phases 4 and 5 of the programme totalling £24.850m. This represents the total scheme costs less costs incurred to date, funding arrangements are included within the financial implications of the report.
4) Cabinet agrees to provide approval to undertake a play area feasibility study for the future of the wet and dry play areas in front of Phase 4 once construction is complete. This is detailed in section 3.13.
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131
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Lane Rental Scheme
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Contact Officer: |
Tracy Beverley |
Tel: 01273 292813 |
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) That Cabinet agrees that an application to the Secretary of State should be made to secure the required powers to introduce Lane Rental to Brighton and Hove City Council.
2) That Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director of City Operations to develop the Lane Rental Scheme in consultation with the Member for Transport and City Infrastructure, carry out stakeholder consultation on this scheme and apply to the Secretary of State for approval to introduce Lane Rental.
3) That the Committee delegates authority to the Corporate Director of City Operations, in consultation with the Member for Transport and City Infrastructure implement the Lane Rental Scheme following the Secretary of State approval.
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132
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Adult Social Care Improvement Plan
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet notes the report, outcome of the inspection and endorses the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan.
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133
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Response to notice of motion from October Council
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Contact Officer: |
Haley Woollard, John Hooton |
Tel: 01273 291246, |
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet notes the information set out in section 3 of this report, setting out exposure of ESPF, the Councils treasury investments, and our freehold landholdings to ‘involved companies’. ‘Involved companies’ refers to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) list that has been compiled of companies that operate in illegal settlements in the West Bank.
2) Cabinet agrees that, as part of the implementation of Local Government Reorganisation in Sussex, we will recommend that Brighton and Hove City Council has more representation on governance and oversight arrangements for the East Sussex Pension Fund or any replacement Fund.
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134
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Brighton & Hove Outdoor Events Strategy
Decision implemented at close of business on: 20 February 2026 unless called in
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Ward Affected: |
All Wards |
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1) Cabinet agrees the Outdoor Events Strategy 2026–2036 (Apx n1).
2) Cabinet endorses the ongoing development and delivery of the programme, including strengthened partnership working, enhanced community engagement, and the actions intended to protect the natural environment and maximise economic benefit.
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