Brighton & Hove City Council

 

Council

 

6.30pm24 September 2025

 

Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall

 

MINUTES

 

 

Present:   Councillors Grimshaw (Chair), Galvin (Deputy Chair), Asaduzzaman, Atkinson, Alexander, Allen, Bagaeen, Baghoth, Cattell, Czolak, Daniel, Davis, Earthey, Fishleigh, Fowler, Gauge, Goddard, Guilmant, Helliwell, Hewitt, Hill, Hogan, Loughran, Lyons, Mackey, McGregor, McLeay, McNair, Meadows, Miller, Muten, Nann, Oliveira, Parrott, Pickett, Robins, Robinson, Rowkins, Sankey, Shanks, Sheard, Simon, Sykes, Taylor, C Theobald, Thomson, Wilkinson, Winder and Williams

 

 

PART ONE

 

 

<AI1>

1                Declarations of Interest

 

1.1      No declarations of interests in matters appearing on the agenda were made.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

2                Mayor's Communications.

 

2.1      There were none.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

3                To receive petitions and e-petitions

 

3.1      There were none.

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

4                Local Government Reorganisation

 

4.1      Councillor Hewitt introduced and formally moved the report concerning Local Government Reorganisation. 

 

4.2      Councillors McLeay, McNair, Taylor, Earthey, Atkinson, Sykes, Meadows, Alexander, Bagaeen, Shanks, Theobald, Asaduzzaman, De Oliveira, Pickett, Lyons, Sankey, Hill, and Hogan spoke in the general debate on the matter.

 

4.3      The following points were raised during the debate. Reservations were expressed about the process, describing it as rushed and imposed from the top down. They questioned what they felt was an absence of meaningful consultation with residents and neighbouring councils, warning that such an approach risked centralising power and undermining local democracy. Concerns were also raised about the potential erosion of public trust and the imposition of significant upfront costs without clear evidence of long-term financial benefits.

 

4.4      There were questions as to whether the proposed changes would effectively tackle core challenges such as adult social care, housing, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They cautioned that the reorganisation could divert resources and attention away from essential services, without resolving the underlying issues facing local government.

 

4.5      Supporters of the local government reorganisation proposal emphasised that the changes would create more coherent and connected communities, reflecting existing social and economic ties, particularly between Brighton and Hove and the neighbouring areas proposed for inclusion. They argued that the new structure would unlock significant devolution funding, improve service delivery, and ensure balanced representation for urban, coastal, and rural communities. Also highlighting the potential for greater local empowerment, streamlined governance, and the ability to address local needs more effectively through a model designed around real-life patterns and journeys.

 

4.6      Councillor Hewitt responded to the debate.

 

4.7      Councillors called for a recorded vote on the recommendations which was put to the vote and carried.

 

4.8      The Mayor put the recommendations as detailed in the report to the vote:

 

 

 

For

Against

Abstain

 

 

For

Against

Abstain

1

Alexander

x

 

 

28

Lyons

 

 

x

2

Allen

x

 

 

29

Mackey

x

 

 

3

Asaduzzaman

x

 

 

30

McGregor

x

 

 

4

Atkinson

 

 

x

31

McLeay

 

x

 

5

Bagaeen

 

x

 

32

McNair

 

 

x

6

Baghoth

x

 

 

33

Meadows

 

 

x

7

Cattell

x

 

 

34

Miller

x

 

 

8

Czolak

x

 

 

35

Muten

x

 

 

9

Daniel

x

 

 

36

Nann

x

 

 

10

Davis

 

x

 

37

O’Quinn

Not Present

11

De Oliveira

 

x

 

38

Parrott

x

 

 

12

Earthey

x

 

 

39

Pickett

 

x

 

13

Evans

Not Present

40

Robins

x

 

 

14

Fishleigh

x

 

 

41

Robinson

x

 

 

15

Fowler

x

 

 

42

Rowkins

x

 

 

16

Galvin

x

 

 

43

Sankey

x

 

 

17

Gauge

x

 

 

44

Shanks

 

x

 

18

Goddard

x

 

 

45

Sheard

x

 

 

19

Goldsmith

Not Present

46

Simon

x

 

 

20

Grimshaw

x

 

 

47

Sykes

 

x

 

21

Guilmant

x

 

 

48

Taylor

x

 

 

22

Helliwell

x

 

 

49

Theobald

 

 

x

23

Hewitt

x

 

 

50

Thomson

x

 

 

24

Hill

 

x

 

51

West

Not Present

25

Hogan

 

 

x

52

Wilkinson

x

 

 

26

Lademacher

 

x

 

53

Williams

x

 

 

27

Loughran

x

 

 

54

Winder

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

35

9

6

 

4.9      The Mayor confirmed that the recommendations had been carried by a vote of 35 in favour, 9 against, with 6 abstentions

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Council endorse the recommendations set out in the Cabinet report attached.

 

That Cabinet

 

1)    Agrees the Final Proposal: ‘Representative Councils for a Devolved Sussex: A Five Unitary Proposal’ as set out at Appendix 1 and approves its submission to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by 26 September 2025.

 

2)    Delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final adjustments to the Final Proposal before the deadline for submission.

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

5                Close of Meeting

 

</AI5>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

 

The meeting concluded at 7.35pm

 

Signed

 

 

 

Chair

Dated this

day of

 

 

 

2025

 

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