Brighton & Hove City Council
Cabinet
4.30pm23 January 2025
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
MINUTES
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Present: Councillor Sankey (Chair) Taylor (Deputy Chair), Daniel, Miller, Muten, Pumm, Robins, Rowkins, Williams and Robinson |
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PART ONE
124 Procedural Business
124a Declarations of interests
124.1 There were none.
124b Exclusion of the press and public
124.2 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.
124.3 Resolved- That the public are excluded from the meeting from items listed on Part 2 of the agenda.
125 Minutes
125.1 Resolved- That the minutes of the previous meetings be approved as the correct record.
126 Chair's Communications
125.1 The Chair provided the following Communications:
I'd like to start by taking this opportunity to welcome our colleague, Councillor Birgit Miller, back to Cabinet after a period of sickness leave,
Councillor Miller obviously attended and contributed to our special cabinet meeting on devolution earlier this month, but in honesty, in the excitement of that meeting, I didn't properly welcome her back. So welcome back, Councillor Miller. I'd like to also put on record my thanks to Cabinet adviser Councillor Mitchie Alexander for providing such excellent cover while Councillor Miller was away.
Councillor Alexander is unfortunately unwell today and so will not be attending in her Cabinet advisor capacity, although our new food strategy which will be discussed today is one of her projects and that that will be led today by Councillor Leslie Pumm.
I'd like to also record my thanks to Councillor Ty Goddard who has stepped down as cabinet advisor and economic development and regional partnership to focus more on his other work. He's provided really fantastic and outstanding support to the work that the Administration has done so far in writing new economic strategy for the city and giving a real boost to our economic development plan. So, I'd like to put on record my thanks for that. It's genuinely inspiring to be surrounded by so many Members who are so passionate about this city and so determined to continue delivering on the priorities of local people. I've never been more confident that in 2025 this will be a year of opportunity for this Council and our amazing city. And I think that today's business includes welcome progress on a number of key priorities and examples of the really positive and important work being done by officers and Members.
I'm very proud to see our preventing and tackling violence against women and girls and domestic and sexual abuse strategy 2025 to 2028 come before Cabinet. As a proud feminist, I know that this will make a difference to the lives and the lived experiences of people throughout the city, and I thank everyone that has worked so hard on the strategy.
Domestic abuse accounted for 11% of all recorded crime in Brighton and Hove in 2024. With police reports showing that there were 1209 sexual offences in that period and 460 incidents of stalking, these offences are often also, as we know, underreported, meaning the actual numbers are likely even higher. I know from my case work with survivors that they are frequently forced to recount their stories endless times, and that the services they need from everything from housing to the criminal justice system are not properly aligned and supportive.
We are determined to tackle this and our three-year action plan, which includes the creation of a new board to oversee relevant services and support in the city, is the latest step of our ongoing efforts. I was also pleased yesterday to take up my new role on the Labour Party's national Policy Forum in the Safer Streets Commission, which will be working closely with the Home Secretary on the government's missions across crime, civil rights and justice, which includes government's ambitious missions of halving violence against women and girls.
By working together, we can create a better future where violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence is prevented. Survivors are supported and perpetrators are held accountable.
Housing is another real area of focus for this Council and today's Cabinet agenda includes discussions on the appointment of a contractor for our new Moulsecoomb Housing and Community Hub.
This project represents a significant regeneration opportunity for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean with 200 new council homes and a multi-use community hub. It will have a transformative effect on the surrounding area and provide residents with access to a range of community facilities.
Importantly, this project's design has been shaped by residents. More than 200 local people told us what they wanted on the site and shared any concerns, and their feedback has been instrumental in finalising these ambitious plans.
Under this Administration, we will always be a listening Council and a Council that is unapologetically focused on investing in communities that have been historically underserved. Everyone deserves an accessible, affordable and decent home, and we will continue to deliver this. I can't wait to see the project on this work get underway, assuming that Cabinet approves the report this evening.
I'm proud that this Council remains committed to supporting schools to support trans and gender questioning young people and their families.
And I'm pleased that we're discussing an updated version of our Trans Inclusion tool kit on today's agenda.
These young people have been consistently identified both locally and nationally as vulnerable in terms of education outcomes. If adopted today, this update will be the fifth version of our toolkit and should be a source of pride for this Council that we continue to be at the forefront of work in this area. All young people deserve safety, dignity and respect and trans and non-binary young people deserve to participate as equals in their school life.
You will also see plans for Park and Ride on this cabinet agenda.
This has been something residents have been calling for many years and it's brilliant to see it finally moving closer to becoming a reality under this Labour Administration. The approach being recommended to councillors today, initially using existing car parks to house a park and ride scheme, has been used successfully by many other local authorities to support the case for an eventual purpose-built facility.
We plan and hope to have this scheme in place and operational by the summer.
Once again, this Administration is listening and delivering on local priorities.
Finally, today we will discuss recommendations around the potential sale of the Brighton i360. While the sale is a decision for the administrators Interpath, they must act in the best interests of creditors and as the largest creditor for this sale to go ahead, the Council needs to agree the release of the debt owed by the i360 company to this Council. The final decision on the sale will be made by Interpath.
When the Green and Conservative parties voted to back the i360 with public money in 2014 and to take out a £36 million loan, which was passed straight on to private developers, they effectively submitted this City Council and our taxpayers and residents entirely to the free market. Mindbogglingly little thought was given to what would happen if the venture didn't initially succeed and so that decision has ultimately brought us to where we are now.
Before and since the Board of the i360 filed for administration last month, our Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration, Councillor Jacob Taylor, has been working relentlessly with officers against the bad hand we've been dealt to try and secure a buyer for the attraction. It benefits everyone for the attraction to still be in use if at all possible. Former employees who may regain their employment, businesses next to the i360, who have already seen a drop in footfall and profits since the i360 closed its doors and ultimately residents and the City Council, the derelict structure benefits no one. Another West Pier, but without the history that makes the West Pier in all its rugged rustiness beloved of Brightonians through the generations. If the i360 can operate again, then it can help bring in business rates, and if we proceed with the recommended buyer that has come forward, the City Council will get a small share of future revenue should the attraction become profitable again.
This may be the least worst option. I understand why residents are so incredulous that this situation has come to pass. I'm incredulous and in honesty, I'm also angry. There are Green councillors present in today's cabinet meeting and given that we are due to discuss this issue, I ask again that they reflect on their leading role in this catastrophe and call on them to make a public apology to the city's residents for this £51 million worth of debt.
127 Call Over
127.1 The following items on the agenda were reserved for discussion:
- Item 132: Brighton & Hove Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30
- Item 134: Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing Project
- Item 135: Park & Ride
- Item 136: Microsoft licence renewal
- Item 138: Regional Care co-operative DfE pathfinder
- Item 139: Preventing and tackling Violence and Women and Girls and Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2025-2028
- Item 140: Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
- Item 141: Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
- Item 142: Brighton i360: Decision on Future
127.2 The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that the items listed above had been reserved for discussion and that the following reports on the agenda with the recommendations therein had been approved and adopted:
- Item 133: Admission of New Member to the Greater Brighton Economic Board
- Item 137: Council Tax Base and Business Rates forecasts 2025/26
128 Public Involvement
(a) Petitions
1) Install Adequate Lighting in Tarner Park
125.1 The petition was withdrawn.
(b) Public Questions
125.2 Clare B Dimyon read the following question:
When "Violence Against Women and Girls" (female) is recognised by international treaties* (UN 1993, Council of Europe - Istanbul 2013 & Dublin 2022) to be a phenomenon of specifically male violence, as is reflected in UK and other government data globally, across two decades, and in the context of 97-98% opposite-sex [50] orientation (ONS Census 2021), upon what evidence does Brighton & Hove City Council (agents and officers), rely in terms of liability, for the hypothesis that the sexual offending of transgender & nonbinary males (transwomen), is, as low or lower than that of the female population (not excluding transmen).
125.3 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
To be clear, the strategy addresses all violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence, regardless of the sex or gender of either the perpetrator or victim. It serves all affected by these crimes. I understand in the development of this strategy, the Council has not stated nor referred to this hypothesis.
2) Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
125.4 Allison Hooper read the following question:
Over 500 women have so far signed an Open Letter on sexual violence support for women in B&H and surrounding areas. The letter raised serious concerns about the withdrawal or absence of female-only services for survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Can the council confirm to me today that its VAWG Strategy will be amended to ensure female-only services are reinstated as soon as possible and made available to any female survivor who needs them?
125.5 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
So, this strategy outlines our strategic aims to prevent and tackle for domestic abuse and sexual violence. The commissioning of services occurs in line with the commissioning cycle, so different dates. The Council currently jointly commissions its main contract for domestic and sexual violence services on a pan-Sussex basis. Going forward, consultations for future commissioning will be undertaken to inform those future commissioning decisions. We will take into account any barriers raised by any cohort of victims and survivors and endeavour to address them, but I have to be clear that the Council has not changed its commissioning policy in relation to the current services on gender and sex in terms of access to the services in the city, nor has it withdrawn or changed female only services on a sex basis. The service criteria did not change in the last commissioning round and the policies of providers remains the same as it did under previous contracts and providers.
3) Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
125.6 Adrian Hart read the following question:
How will the Toolkit V5 prevent the classroom to clinic pipeline that has developed across the city (something highlighted in the recent High Court case launched by a Brighton parent against the NHS and which began with a child being socially transitioned in a local secondary school)? I’m sure Cabinet will want to reassure parents that the activist organisation Allsorts Youth Project will cease its activities inside schools in facilitating this pipeline.
125.7 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
The toolkit makes it clear that it's not for schools to make decisions about medical treatment. The case you referred to involves the NHS and does not appear to have been determined yet, and as the Council is not a party to it, I cannot comment on it.
4) Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
125.8 Naomi Bos read the following question:
In 2021, Rise Up! submitted a petition with over 30,000 signatures to the Council, highlighting public distress at Brighton’s home grown specialist domestic abuse charity being decommissioned and services handed over to national generic providers. Subsequently we worked with a cross-party working group to address these failures. However, our requests to be included in the ‘lived-experience’ board and the City’s VAWG Forum have gone unanswered. We seek assurance that there will be a transparent process allowing stakeholder organisations to apply for membership of the new Oversight Board, rather than being privately selected. Will this Board have room for the input of engaged and established volunteer-run survivors’ groups and the victim-survivors that they represent and will we be invited?
125.9 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
The membership of the Oversight Board will be composed of key partners from the voluntary and community sector as well as the statutory sector.
In terms of the Oversight Board, the Board will develop the work around survivor involvement. My main initial priority is to be satisfied that the survivor voice includes a broad demographic, for example disabled survivors, older survivors and care experienced survivors
5) Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
128.10 Gail Grey read the following question:
The Pan Sussex Domestic Abuse accommodation and support strategy identified a shortfall of 14 Refuge spaces for women and children. How does the Council intend to fill this gap in provision?
128.11 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
In 2021, Brighton and Hove City Council commissioned Stonewater to carry out research on the housing options for survivors of domestic abuse locally. Stonewater in partnership with the Council developed the Savehaven by the Sea Report. As a result of that process, several recommendations were identified, and those recommendations are contained within the Strategy. The Council will continue to work in partnership to deliver on those recommendations.
We've already worked in partnership to develop safe house provision with Stonewater, which has provided an additional 5 units of accommodation. We continue to work to identify and expand the level of safe housing for those affected in the city
6) Park & Ride
128.12 James Taylor read the following question:
One of the stated aims of the park and ride scheme is to reduce city centre congestion. Clearly this can only be achieved if drivers choose to use the park and ride scheme, instead of driving to the city centre car parks, but there is no mention of the trial park and ride spaces replacing existing city centre parking spaces. Combine this with the recent reduction in city centre parking charges and there is no incentive for drivers to choose the slightly less convenient park and ride option. If the trial scheme is unpopular for the reasons stated, how will this be considered when making a decision on a permanent scheme?
128.13 Councillor Muten provided the following reply:
Thank you, James, for your question. The provision of park and ride in the city is necessary to offer travel choices for those coming to our city. Currently, those who need to drive to our city centre have limited choice, leading many visitors to drive right into our city centre to park, providing park and ride offers a genuine choice alongside a range of other modes of transport.
There may be a range of reasons people need to drive to city centre and we are working on the details of park and ride to offer incentives to do so.
We're currently not looking at a one in one out approach as this would not be beneficial for our city in relation to our visitor economy and growth agenda and really vibrancy of our city.
The do nothing approach as previous administrations effectively chose to implement is also proved not beneficial. There has been a net loss of approximately 500 spaces in the city centre parking spaces over recent years for a range of reasons, including the closure of Carlton Hill and Oxford Court car parks and the loss of parking to install the Madeira drive cycle lanes and no park and ride offer to offset this number.
We do need a park and ride that works well for our city, helps reduce congestion and improve air quality. A park and ride offer could incentivise car sharing.
Bike hire hubs will provide visitors an active travel option. The price points we offer will be an important factor that for its successful details of park and ride. Park and ride will be presented at a future at a future cabinet meeting.
7) Trans Toolkit Version 5
128.14 On behalf of a resident, Councillor Goldsmith read the following question:
Having been through a rigorous consultation process, and having accepted the importance of the trans inclusion toolkit as vital guidance for schools and to support inclusion for all our CYP, what are the Council’s plans to ensure schools are informed about and trained in utilising this guidance for the benefit of all their pupils?
128.15 Councillor Daniel provided the following reply:
If approved today, we will promote the toolkit with all of our schools through a number of channels, including head teacher meetings, a weekly bulletin, our PSHE networks and the PSHE newsletter. We will also communicate with governors via our school governors team to raise awareness and where schools have questions about specific issues, officers can provide further support and advice as required on a case by case basis.
129 Issues Raised by Members
125.1 A copy of the questions received was circulated ahead of the meeting. Responses provided are as follows:
1) Councillor Meadows- Park & Ride
Response from Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Meadows. You are right in stating that there is already a Park & Ride in Mill Road for football events. This is separate to the proposals being discussed today for a Park & Ride to serve the city.
2) Councillor Meadows – Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Meadows. This question is answered by your previous question in that football Park & Ride is separate to what is being discussed today. To address your on-street matchday parking concerns in Patcham, enforceable matchday parking restrictions as successfully rolled out recently elsewhere in the city may be an option should residents request this. To again stress, this matchday park & ride arrangement is separate from the Park & Ride proposals being discussed today.
3) Councillor Meadows- Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Meadows. The proposal being discussed today would not be subject to consultation as it is the utilisation of existing car parks and existing bus services for Park & Ride in the city. Your third question, as are your earlier two questions, seem to focus on a misplaced assumption. May I again respectfully emphasise that the proposals being discussed today are for a Park & Ride to serve the city; and are not in relation to the existing football matchday Park & Ride that operates on Mill Road, Patcham.
4) Councillor Meadows- Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your further question, Councillor Meadows. This question is answered in the answer to Question 1 in that the existing arrangements for football matchday Park & Ride is separate to what is being discussed today. This paper is focused on the Park & Ride that serves the city. Previous Cabinet, Full Council and Planning Committee meetings focused on the decisions around the Patcham Court Farm site.
Visitors in vehicles would be directed to the active Park & Ride for the city, which may lower the number of visitor vehicles parked on residential streets. In this regard, the Park & Ride provides mitigation for the concern you identify.
5) Councillor Meadows - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Meadows. This question is answered by the answer to your first question and subsequent three next questions in that football Park & Ride is separate to what is being discussed today. The proposal at Cabinet is for a Park & Ride for the city and not in relation to the existing matchday arrangements for football parking that uses the Mill Road as a Park & Ride for the Amex.
6) Councillor Meadows - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Meadows. The proposed Park & Ride is going to utilise existing car parks and bus services on existing routes. The ticketing and pricing details of this are being worked out and will be subject to a future Cabinet report. Subject to the details of each location under consideration, the Park & Ride parking ticket will connect with and enable the Park & Ride bus offer. If visitors chose to park elsewhere, they would be subject the normal bus fare for that route.
7) Councillor Hill - Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
Response: Councillor Daniel
The toolkit has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure it refers to all current relevant statute, statutory guidance and relevant legislation. It further emphasises that each student needs to be considered on a case by case basis, in partnership with parents or carers except in exceptional circumstances. It provides detailed and nuanced guidance to support schools and educational settings to develop policies and practice to support trans children and young people.
8) Councillor Hill - Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
Response: Councillor Daniel
A draft of the toolkit has been shared with the DfE
9) Councillor Hill- Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
Response: Councillor Daniel
The procurement of services that support women who have been affected by violence are undertaken in line with procurement legislation with oversight by the Council’s Procurement Team. The Council is aware of the suggestion by Womens Aid that local specialist provision is procured and can confirm that in the past, local specialist services have been invited to tender for services. Going forward, the Council welcomes submissions for tenders from local specialist providers.
It is my intention to ensure that we use the guidance provided by organisations such as Women’s Aid and Gallup to support our commissioning process in order to provide reassurance to the public that future processes have been informed by national best practice and that the outcome should be supported by the whole community.
10) Councillor Hill- Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
Response: Councillor Daniel
Sex workers are a group who can be affected by the harm caused by VAWG. Currently, the Council fund a local provider Oasis to deliver support via the Sex Workers Outreach Project. At Cabinet, I (Councillor Daniel), committed to continuing to support sex workers Our work will include the consideration of dignified and fair access to services for sex workers We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Police to tackle those who exploit sex workers whilst working with harm reduction services to improve routes to safety for those engaged in sex work who wish to exit. I gave my contact details to the group who came to council and invited them to get in touch to ensure that they are kept informed of any relevant work strands and consultation opportunities.
11) Councillor Hill- Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
Response: Councillor Daniel
Working with Education establishments is a key to our strategic aim of prioritising prevention. The Harmful Sexual Practices workgroup oversaw the delivery of the Pattern and Progress programme delivered by the YMCA and funded by the Trust for Developing Communities. This programme had a strong focus on pro social behaviour change at young men. Currently staff from Cranstoun attend schools to support young people using abusive behaviours in their relationships.
The Council work with the universities of Brighton and Sussex to ensure engagement with and awareness of the local service offer. Going forward, as we deliver the strategy, the Prioritising Prevention subgroup will collaborate with local partners to organise a partnership approach to educating children about health relationships based on the learning available from national best practice.
We will extend our focus to include VCS sector partners and sports clubs who work with children and young people to deliver workshops to raise awareness of VAWG/DA/SV to young people.
I have asked the young people involved in Citizens UK in the city who have done some amazing work on young people and mental health to consider putting together proposals around what they think would be the most useful interventions and what role they think young people should play in preventing VAWG DA SV.
12) Councillor West - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor West. The provision of Park & Ride is necessary to offer travel choices for those coming to the city. Currently those who have to drive to the city centre have limited choices and many choose to drive right into the centre of city to park. Providing Park & Ride offers a genuine choice, alongside a range of other ways to get to the city including those you mention. There may be a range of reasons people come to our city by car. We are working on the details of Park & Ride to offer incentives for Park & Ride for those needing to drive without taking their vehicle into the city centre.
To encourage growth in our visitor economy, we do not support a one-in one-out policy, as perhaps intimated by your question. Rather, the option of Park & Ride will always be in conjunction with offering a range of transport choices for those accessing our city. We have lost some 500 car parking space over recent years with the development of Carlton Hill and Oxford Place car parks and loss of parking to install the Maderia Drive cycle lane, all without a commensurate Park & Ride offer to visitors. Further to bus transit, Park & Ride locations will have bike hire. As in some other cities, Park & Ride can encourage and incentivise car share reducing car numbers whilst enhancing visitor numbers. Full details of Park & Ride will be presented at a future Cabinet meeting.
13) Councillor West - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor West. The preferred option in the discussion today is the provision of Park & Ride using existing car parks and bus services on existing bus routes. Details of options for Park & Ride sites are continuing to be investigated and will be the subject of a future Cabinet report. Previous administrations have repeated exploration of a large single site on the edge of the city and South Downs. This “obsession” as you describe included a study under the Green administration between 2021 to 2023 which also focused on these same sites – more than a decade after the South Downs National Park was formed. Pursuing the recommended Option 2 in the report breaks this former approach. we do need to evaluate something which is operationally viable in the first instance.
Using existing sites and it doesn't preclude the possibility of developing a more permanent site in the future, but we do need as a priority to get park and ride up and running and that is the principal focus.
14) Councillor West - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question. By taking forward this option to utilise existing car parks and bus services on existing routes, this offers a flexible approach which allows testing of the proof of concept by working in partnership without to making costly investment and potential subsidy. The scheme will have ongoing review with potential for more partners and sites to come on board. Use and development of active travel routes can further encourage cycle hub connection for multi-modal access to our city. On proof of concept, the offer can grow.
As a member of Transport for the South East, I can assure you we are strongly advocating better public transport for our region. It is on public record when I spoke at the last meeting of this Cabinet in support of a devolved mayoral strategic authority for Sussex to develop an integrated transport policy with a planning policy that encourages better public transport to and from our city. We are also improving bus services and installing better active travel infrastructure across our city.
15) Councillor West - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor West. Unlike your party, we do not make decisions based on wishful thinking and political ideology. No, we are data led problem solvers to get things done. As part of the officer work on this, the data from the Withdean site has been considered and reviewed. Likewise, officers are reviewing what works elsewhere and undertaking modelling and site visits to get the best we can for our city. Further assessment of other city’s operations is taking place. Building on data from other successful schemes, our new approach to Park & Ride will work well for our city and its constraints. The details of Park & Ride will be subject to a future Cabinet report. Once operational, we will measure usage, incentive and feedback to assess success with review to improve.
16) Councillor Pickett - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Pickett. As you state, there are several main arteries into the city, and therefore our work on Park & Ride is considering these. Our more versatile approach enables this. On proof of concept, we aim to grow to enable this model close to main routes into the city. The details will be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.
17) Councillor Pickett - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councilor Pickett. This funding will enable site evaluation, understand what works for comparable cities and to establish the first site to be launched this summer. We are working closely with bus operators to enhance bus services on existing routes to establish Park & Ride for our city. For this to grow, a business case will be written to demonstrate longer term viability and sustainability. On proof on concept, we will develop Park & Ride options on a more sustainable and viable basis.
18) Councillor Pickett- Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Pickett. We plan to work in partnership with car park owners. Negotiations continue and the details of Park & Ride will be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.
19) Councillor Pickett- Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Pickett. With respect to the legacy Park & Ride, the ticketing and current payment for parking at Withdean Sports Centre is entirely under contract to Freedom Leisure with no plan to change from current arrangements.
For Park & Ride for the city, we are considering an approach that allows flexibility both in terms of the use of sites and also the use of bus services on existing routes. This allows the testing of this proof of concept for Park & Ride without the need for a subsidised dedicated bus service.
20) Councillor Pickett - Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Pickett. We are working on the details of this in discussions with the relevant stakeholders, and details will be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.
21) Councillor Pickett - Park & Ride
When you suggest a longer-term plan of building a singular purpose-built site, doesn't this go against the common idea that P&R sites only work for a city if there is more than one site and that to only have one site could mean that the concentration of traffic builds up in that area instead of the centre. Therefore, isn't it just moving the concentration of cars from one area to another?
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Pickett. The more costly Option 1 is not preferred. The recommendation in the report is for Option 2. For this approach we are planning to establish a proof of concept and utilise this at multiple locations. This more flexible approach could be established on each main artery route into and out of our city. This flexible and more distributed approach aims to avoid the concern you raise. The details will be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.
22) Councillor Pickett- Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing project
Response: Councillor Williams
The shortfall has been included within the Council's successful Brownfield investment and land programme bid, which was successful as we've just heard this week.
And as outlined in Part 2 of the report, a range of mitigations, including exploring value engineering options, are in place to ensure this project remains viable and deliverable.
23) Councillor Pickett - Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
Response: Councillor Daniel
The council is committed to addressing VAWG, DA and SV. Feedback from partnership consultations highlight that to effectively tackle the harm caused by VAWG/DA/SV there is a need to develop a coordinated response. This approach recognises that everyone has a role in tackling and preventing VAWG and goes beyond commissioning specialist services. Our “One Council Approach” and the new strategy aim to ensure that all Council and commissioned services prioritise VAWG.
It is anticipated that our strategic priority of “strengthening the co-ordinated response” to VAWG/DA/SV will work to improve coordination and strengthen how services work with victim/survivors. The aim is that wherever in the partnership an individual discloses they are affected by VAWG/ SA/SV they will receive an appropriate response and be signposted to support. In developing this strategy, we received strong feedback from stakeholders that no single agency can provide the whole response to VAWG and that everyone in the city has a role to play in tackling VAWG. The Council will continue to drive the work with the public, statutory and community voluntary services to improve how we respond to VAWG as a city.
24) Councillor Shanks- Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing project
Response: Councillor Williams
The youth services currently provided at the 67 Centre will continue at the new Moulsecoomb Community Hub. The youth space will continue to be managed by the Council, and the Council will commission youth providers to ensure it meets its statutory duty regarding sufficient youth activity.
25) Councillor Goldsmith- Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
Response: Councillor Daniel
Our staff are involved with national and regional networks and that will be shared as any of our policies would be.
26) Councillor Sykes- Brighton and Hove Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30
Response: Councillor Pumm
The four-year strategic investment into the sector via the Thriving Communities Investment Fund has been protected in the budget in recognition of the importance of the sector not only in meeting residents and communities in crisis now but also their work with the council to develop and support community resilience and move to preventative action. The fund has strategically invested in core and projects key CVS organisations across the city that provide a range of support to diverse communities in the city. The fund also has a stream of funding available for small organisations in the city, the Community Catalyst Fund, this offers small groups greater stability by offering two years of funding. The council recognises that securing external funding for CVS organisations is extremely challenging especially at the moment and especially for core costs. Many external funds focus on supporting projects. The council recognises that through its investment focusing on core costs we are enabling the sector to survive and thrive and bringing in more and other funds to the city to support residents.
27) Councillor Sykes- Microsoft Licence Renewal
Response: Councillor Taylor
The Microsoft suite of tools provides the essential applications that drive the operation of many council services, and with the evolution of AI and other technologies provide us with many opportunities to innovate and improve the way we do business. There are other options and applications available from other providers, but it is felt that currently the innovations within the Microsoft suite, and our current use of the tools that is already embedded across the council are the best and most efficient approach to streamline our back-office services and ensure we can maximise resource available for direct service delivery to residents.
Our IT&D team keep under review whether the tools best meet our needs both now and into the future. Detailed work has led the team to the view that the best value approach is to re-new these contracts using the frameworks described and continue with embedding tools that will improve productivity going forward. We will continue to review whether there are other tools that better meet our needs, and the options we have to contain costs as far as possible with the use of frameworks and effective joint procurement through our Orbis partnership.
28) Councillor Sykes- Council Tax Base and Business Rates Retention Forecasts 2025/26
Response: Councillor Taylor
You're quite right. Clearly, we don't want empty properties in the city. The premiums themselves are clearly a powerful incentive for owners to bring their properties back into use. The numbers have come down from 934 to 858 as of the 2nd of January 2025. That's a sort of update versus in the paper. So, the numbers have come down a bit, but clearly the figure the figure does fluctuate as properties come in and out of use. The large majority of properties are in the one to five year empty category and currently 68% of those are one to two years. Most long long-term empty properties in Brighton & Hove under two years empty are transactional and tend to come back into use before two years has elapsed from routine engagement with owners and light touch local authority involvement. Transactional includes things such as advertising a property for sale, dealing with previous owners affairs, buying and selling delays building delays and obtaining planning consent.
As we can see, the number of properties empty over two years are far fewer, while generally more problematic. This is where the main focus and expertise of the Council's empty property team comes into play. Seeking solutions by working with owners to bring properties back into use, through sale or renting.
29) Councillor Fishleigh- Park & Ride
Response: Councillor Muten
Thank you for your question, Councillor Fishleigh. I’m afraid I can’t talk specifics of which bus services at this point in time because we are negotiating with third parties. The details of the Park & Ride will be discussed at a future Cabinet meeting. This meeting is to agree the new approach. Our more versatile approach sets out to use existing bus routes with provision for flexibility including limited stop options.
We are aware of the issues on the 27 bus service and are working with the respective bus operator to resolve and improve the level of service that residents expect and deserve from their bus service.
30) Councillor Fishleigh- Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence – Brighton & Hove City Council’s strategy 2025-2028
Response: Councillor Daniel
The Strategy details our commitment to supporting all victim/survivors Going forward, future commissioning service plans will be developed in partnership with our joint funding partners and stakeholders across the City.
It is and has been the case that survivors are offered single sex provision within organisations that are trans inclusive where that is their need, and this has been the case for decades. It is also the case that the waiting list for any service can be too long for survivors and I acknowledge that isn’t where we want services to be and I will work hard with providers to increase the capacity of the sector.
31) Councillor McNair- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
The external investigation will be carried out by someone external to the council who was not in any way linked with the original decision. Seeking external investigations of council activity is not unusual. Most recently the council did a similar exercise with the KC investigation into activities at City Clean.
32) Councillor Meadows- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
The investigation will not be a full Public Inquiry. As such it will not have any powers to compel participation. Although my strong expectation would be that former and serving councillors involved in the decision would agree to participate in the interests of transparency.
33) Councillor McNair- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
The i360 has been through a process of Administration. As the report quite clearly sets out in the recommendations at 2.1 – and also at sections 1.1; 3.15; 3.16; and 6.3 – the buyer will not be expected to take on the interest payments as they are not taking on the debt. The buyer is aware of the interest payments that were owed by the previous owner. But being absolutely clear: that debt is not the responsibility of the new buyer.
34) Councillor Meadows- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
This is clearly set out in section 6.4 of the report. There will be an estimated £2.2m finance cost to be covered until 2041.
35) Councillor McNair- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
This is covered in the Part 2 report, as the terms of the deal are commercially sensitive until the transaction is complete. To be clear though, this is not expected to be a sum of money that comes anywhere near covering the £2.2m funding gap created by the failure of the i360. But what it does do, is give us a guarantee of some income should attraction become profitable.
The council does not hold a strong negotiation position: the attraction has been marketed for a number of weeks and only two transactable offers have come forwards and this is the stronger one. The only alternative is to leave the i360 empty and declining on the seafront.
36) Councillor Meadows- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
The administration has been absolutely clear from the start of this process: it will not put any further public money into to the i360 and it has not done so. All money lost to date is as a direct result of the 2014 decision by Green and Conservative councillors to lend money to the i360. For the record the Labour Group voted emphatically against this decision.
37) Councillor McNair- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
Budget council on 27th February will consider how the council allocates its resources. Since 2023/24 the council had assumed £1.2m per annum would not be paid, so this year there is a further £1.0m budget gap created by the Green & Tory i360 debt.
38) Councillor Meadows- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
The allocation of any additional revenue generated by the i360 will be a decision to be taken once it is generated. But no payments are being relied upon in financial planning.
39) Councillor Sykes- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Will there be published Terms of Reference to steer the proposed investigation into the i360 loan decision?
Response: Councillor Taylor
Yes.
40) Councillor Sykes- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
The paper refers to (s4.4) options assessments undertaken about the future of the i360. Was the overall economic preferred option assessed different to that being proposed in the paper?
Response: Councillor Taylor
So, at the time the option paper was put together was before the i360 fully entered into administration and at that stage the process the preferred option would to have been to sell the i360 to a buyer through a pre pack administration which could have meant that the business could have stayed open and the jobs retained. While there were a number of interested buyers at various stages, no bidders came through that process and the i360 did go into administration.
Clearly that reduced the number of options that were open to us.
There were no options that involved the Council getting back a significant portion of its debt, which we'll explore later in the paper, but there were options that we didn't pursue that could have involved the Council putting in a lot more public money into the attraction, but that would have been public money at risk. Clearly, we'll explore that a little bit further in the paper later where we set out the options that the City Council faces.
41) Councillor Goldsmith- Brighton i360- Decision on Future
Response: Councillor Taylor
Generally speaking, the seafront team within the Council do try to have good contacts with the seafront businesses. I mean, as yet there hasn't been a huge amount to update them on the latest developments, however, if we agree the decision today, and if indeed if a sale proceeds, the Council will make contact with those local businesses and obviously connect them with the new buyer so that they're aware. Clearly, what we've heard since the i360 going into administration is it has had, you know, an impact on surrounding businesses, which is one of the factors we have to consider in making our decision today.
130 Matters Referred to the Executive
There were none.
131 Representations from Opposition Members
131.1 Cabinet received a representation from Councillor Pickett on Item 140, Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5.
131.2 Cabinet received a representation from Councillor Hill on Item 140, Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5.
131.3 Cabinet received a representation from Councillor Goldsmith on Item 140, Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5.
132 Brighton and Hove Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30
132.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought endorsement for the refreshed Brighton and Hove Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30.
132.2 Resolved-
1) That Cabinet agrees to endorse the city’s Food Strategy Action Plan 2025-30 (Appendix 1) and to be one of the partners involved in delivery and evaluation.
133 Admission of new member to the Greater Brighton Economic Board
125.1 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees that NHS Sussex ICB joins the Greater Brighton Economic Board as a member of the Business Partnership.
2) Cabinet notes that these changes to the membership and Heads of Terms are dependent on the decision of all the local authorities represented on the Board agreeing that the new member be appointed.
3) Cabinet agrees to amend the Board’s Heads of Terms and instructs the Monitoring Officer to amend the Council’s constitution to reflect these amendments once they have been formally approved by all the constituent authorities.
134 Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing project
125.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for a full construction budget for the residential scheme, and approval to enter into relevant contracts subject to project costs clearing the Council’s financial hurdles.
125.2 Councillors Taylor, Muten, Robinson, Rowkins, Robins and Sankey asked questions on the report and contributed to the debate.
125.3 Resolved-
That Cabinet
1) agrees a full construction budget for the Moulsecoomb Housing project, as set out in the Part 2 Report
2) delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director- City Operations to enter into relevant contracts for the construction of the Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing Project, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes
3) in the event of a successful application for funding, delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director- City Operations to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement for Brownfield Infrastructure and Land (BIL) fund
4) delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director- City Operations to enter into any Contracts required to access Homes England Grant Funding for the residential development
135 Park and Ride
135.2 Councillors Williams, Robins, Rowkins, Miller and Sankey asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
135.3 Resolved-
1) That Cabinet agrees that the option to use of existing car parks within the City for Park and Ride (Option 2 in table 1 of this report) should be pursued along with the continuation of the development of a business case for a purpose built Park and Ride facility (Option 1 in table 1 of this report).
136 Microsoft licence renewal
136.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for the award of three Microsoft Enterprise Licence Agreements.
136.2 Councillor Rowkins and Robinson asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
136.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director, City Operations to take all necessary steps to use the NHS Digital Workplace Solutions Framework to procure a Licence Solution Partner (LSP) for the Council.
2) Cabinet delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director, City Operations to Award a contract to the successful Licence Solution Partner (LSP) to provide the Council with three Microsoft Enterprise Licence Agreements for a term of 3 years with an estimated total value of up to £4,000,000.00
137 Council Tax Base and Business Rates Retention forecasts 2025/26
1) That Cabinet agrees the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2025/26.
2) That Cabinet notes the collection rate assumed is 98.75%.
3) That Cabinet notes that no change to the Council Tax Reduction scheme is proposed for 2025/26 except that, in accordance with the policy agreed by full Council on 3 February 2022, earnings bands will be uplifted to reflect government changes to the National Living Wage as set out in paragraph 3.7.
4) That Cabinet agrees that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amounts calculated by Brighton & Hove City Council as its council tax base for the year 2025/26 shall be as follows:-
2.3.1 Brighton and Hove in whole – 95,160.3 (detail in appendix 1).
2.3.2 Royal Crescent Enclosure Committee – 29.5 (detail in appendix 2).
2.3.3 Hanover Crescent Enclosure Committee – 39.9 (detail in appendix 2).
2.3.4 Marine Square Enclosure Committee – 72.2 (detail in appendix 2).
2.3.5 Parish of Rottingdean – 1,785.8 (detail in appendix 2).
5) That Cabinet agrees that for the purposes of Section 35(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the expenses of meeting the special levies issued to the council by the Enclosure Committees shall be its special expenses.
6) That Cabinet agrees that the Enclosure Committees and Rottingdean Parish are paid the required Council Tax Reduction Grant of c£4,000 in total, to ensure they are no better or no worse off because of the introduction of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.14.
7) That Cabinet notes that the amount forecast to be received by the council in 2025/26 from its share of local business rates and section 31 Local Government Act 2003 compensation grants is £86.520m, based on the latest available data.
8) That Cabinet notes that the amount forecast to be received by the council in 2025/26 from its share of local Council Tax, including Adult Social Care precepts, is £197.623m based on latest available data.
9) That Cabinet delegates the agreement of the final business rates forecast and completion of the NNDR1 2025/26 form to the Section 151 Chief Financial Officer following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance & City Regeneration and this will be reflected in the General Fund Budget report to Cabinet in February 2025
138 Regional care cooperative DfE pathfinder
138.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for Brighton & Hove City Council to continue its involvement in a Department for Education Pathfinder pilot of a Regional Care Cooperative (RCC), alongside 18 other Local Authorities in the South East.
138.2 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees for Brighton & Hove City Council to continue to be involved in the RCC.
2) Cabinet agrees for a contribution of £250,000 to be made from to the RCC, with £50,000 being made in 25/26; £100,000 in 26/27 and £100,000 in 27/28. An outline business case has been completed as part of the corporate budget setting process for 2025/26 to access modernisation funding for this purpose.
3) Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director, Families, Children & Wellbeing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Youth Services and for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls to agree the RCC delivery model.
139 Preventing and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls and Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2025-2028
139.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval of the Preventing and Tackling Violence against Women and Girls, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence strategy 2025-2028.
139.2 Councillors Miller, Pumm, Muten and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.
139.3 Resolved-
1) Cabinet approves the Preventing and Tackling Violence against Women and Girls, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence strategy 2025-2028 in appendix 1.
2) Cabinet agrees the implementation of the 3 year delivery plan set out in appendix 2.
3) Cabinet agrees to the setting up of a new VAWG/DA/SV Oversight Board to report into the Community Safety Partnership to ensure effective implementation, accountability and alignment with strategic objectives.
140 Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5
125.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to publish the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit v5. The toolkit supports schools and education settings to develop policies and practice that promotes the welfare of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the city.
125.2 Cabinet considered the following Officer Amendment to the recommendations:
2.1 Cabinet agrees to publish the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5 (appendix 1) subject to the amendment below and recommends all education settings in Brighton & Hove use its guidance to inform policy and practice.
Cabinet agrees to amend paragraph 2.7.9 of the Toolkit to read:
2.7.9
Statutory Guidance, Relationships Sex and Health Education
recommends that all children and young people have access to
the same information about
puberty:
125.3 Cabinet approved the Officer Amendment.
125.4 Councillor Rowkins, Pumm and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.
125.5 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees to publish the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit Version 5 (appendix 1) subject to the amendment below and recommends all education settings in Brighton & Hove use its guidance to inform policy and practice.
2.7.9 Statutory Guidance, Relationships Sex and Health Education recommends that all children and young people have access to information about puberty:
141 Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund
141.1 Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to enter into a grant agreement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) pending a successful application to the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and, subject to this, award a contract to E.ON Energy Solutions to deliver works outlined in the agreement.
141.2 Councillors Rowkins and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.
141.3 Resolved-
1) That Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and New Homes and the Cabinet member for Net Zero and Environmental Services, to enter into the Grant Agreement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for the Warm Homes; Social Housing Fund Wave 3.
2) That, subject to Warm Homes: Social Housing grant funding being agreed, Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and New Homes, to award a contract, following ‘negotiation without reopening competition to Suppliers’, to E.ON Energy Solutions to deliver the works summarised in this report with a value up to £2.4 million from April 2025 to September 2028.
142 Brighton i360 - Decision on Future
142.1 Cabinet considered a report that provided an update on the decision of the board of Brighton i360 Limited (“Brighton i360”) to file for administration and the work done by the administrators, following their appointment, to seek a sale of Brighton i360’s business and assets to new owners. The report recommended the council agree to the release of its security on the debt owed to the council by Brighton i360.
142.2 Councillors Robins, Miller, Muten, Rowkins and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.
142.3 Cabinet agreed to move to confidential session at 7.45pm.
142.4 Cabinet resumed public session at 8.15pm.
142.5 Councillor Taylor moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.2 as shown in bold italics below:
2.2 Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Operations, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration, to complete negotiations and any legal documentation required to give effect to recommendation 2.1 above.
142.6 Councillor Rowkins formally seconded the motion.
142.7 The Chair put the motion to a vote that was approved.
142.8 The Chair moved the recommendations as amended to the vote that were approved.
142.9 Resolved-
1) Cabinet agrees to release the security on its £51m loan debt and rolled-up interest to the Buyer. In return, the city council will receive a future share of revenue, as set out in the Part 2 report.
2) Cabinet delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Operations, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and City Regeneration, to complete negotiations and any legal documentation required to give effect to recommendation 2.1 above.
3) Cabinet agrees to commission an external independent investigation to understand the circumstances of and lessons from the council’s original decision to loan public money to deliver the Brighton i360.
143 Moulsecoomb Hub and Housing project (Exempt Category 3)
As per the Part One minutes
144 Park & Ride (Exempt Category 3)
As per the Part One minutes
145 Brighton i360 - Decision on Future (Exempt Category 3)
As per the Part One minutes.
146 Part Two Proceedings
125.1 Resolved- That the confidential items listed on the agenda remain exempt from disclosure to the press and public.
The meeting concluded at 8.18pm