Brighton & Hove City Council
Council
5.30pm27 February 2025
Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
MINUTES
Present: Councillors Asaduzzaman (Chair), Grimshaw (Deputy Chair), O'Quinn, Atkinson, Alexander, Allen, Bagaeen, Baghoth, Burden, Cattell, Czolak, Daniel, Davis, Earthey, Evans, Galvin, Fishleigh, Fowler, Goddard, Goldsmith, Guilmant, Helliwell, Hewitt, Hill, Hogan, Lyons, Mackey, McGregor, McLeay, McNair, Meadows, Miller, Muten, Nann, Oliveira, Pickett, Robins, Robinson, Rowkins, Sankey, Shanks, Sheard, Simon, Sykes, Taylor, C Theobald, Thomson, West, Wilkinson, Winder and Williams
PART ONE
77 Declarations of Interest
77.1 Councillor Alexander declared a personal and prejudicial interest as they were Chair of Grub Hub (Food partnership) and as a Board Member for the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.2 Councillor Allen declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was a Trustee at Seaside Homes. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.3 Councillor Daniel declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she held a position of management at a community body. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.4 Councillor De Oliveira declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was a Governor at the University Hospital Sussex Foundation Trust. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.5 Councillor Grimshaw declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was a Trustee of Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.6 Councillor Helliwell declared a personal and prejudicial interest as her partner held a taxi Hackney carriage licence. She confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.7 Councillor Hewitt declared a personal and prejudicial interest as an employee of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and holds a position of control within UNISION. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.8 Councillor Loughran declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was a Trustee at Seaside Homes. She confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.9 Councillor Muten declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was an allotment holder, and his wife was a Trustee of the Hangleton and Knoll project. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.10 Councillor Nann declared a personal and prejudicial interest as his partner worked for Brighton and Hove City Council and was a union rep involved in pay negotiations. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.11 Councillor Pickett declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was a Trustee at Seaside Homes and Chair of Friends of Preston Park. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.12 Councillor Robins declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was an allotment holder, was a Trustee at the Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust and Chair of the Fresh Start Charity an organisation in receipt of community funds. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.13 Councillor Shanks declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was a Trustee of Brighton Youth Centre and the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust, was an allotment holder and her husband was a Trustee of Community Works. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.14 Councillor Sykes declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was a Trustee for Brighton and Hove Food Partnership. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.15 Councillor Theobald declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was President of Mencap Brighton and Hove. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.16 Councillor Wilkinson declared a personal and prejudicial interest as he was an allotment holder, and his partner was employed by Brighton and Hove City Council in the CareLink Team. He confirmed that he had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.17 Councillor Winder declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was an allotment holder. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.18 Councillor Thomson declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she was an allotment holder. She confirmed that she had been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the item by the Monitoring Officer.
77.19 No other declarations of interests in matters appearing on the agenda were made.
78 Mayor's Communications.
78.1 The mayor gave the following communications:
The mayor called on the Leader of the Council to move a motion to suspend the Council Procedure Rules.
Councillor Sankey moved that Council procedure rules be suspended to the extent necessary to enable today’s proceedings to be conducted in accordance with the Special Budget Procedures circulated to Members and published in the addendum from page 5 – 8.
Councillor Taylor formally seconded the motion.
The mayor put the motion to the vote and confirmed that it had been carried unanimously.
79 General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2025-26
79.1 The mayor noted that the principal budget items listed as items 79 and 81 would be debated together, along with Item 80 Supplementary Financial Information, once the proposed budget and various amendments had been moved and seconded.
79.2 He therefore invited Councillor Taylor to propose the budget for 2025/26.
79.3 Councillor Taylor thanked the mayor and formally moved the budget proposals on behalf of the Administration.
79.4 Councillor Sankey spoke on the budget position and formally seconded the proposals.
79.5 Councillor Sykes spoke on the budget and formally moved the Green Group’s amendments No’s 1 – 4.
79.6 Councillor Davis spoke on the budget position and formally seconded the proposals together with the Green Group’s amendments.
79.7 Councillor McNair spoke on the budget and formally moved the Conservative Group’s amendments No’s 1 – 4.
79.8 Councillor Meadows spoke on the budget and formally seconded the Conservative Group’s amendment.
79.9 The mayor opened the matter up to a general debate and the following Members of the Council spoke on the various amendments that had been put forward as well as the general prevailing budget proposals and budget position:
79.10 Councillors Muten, Pickett, Lyons, Daniel, Fishleigh, Bagaeen, McLeay, Hogan, Hewitt, West, Theobald, De Oliveira, Allen, Shanks, Miller, Hill, Alexander, Rowkins, Wilkinson, Sheard, Williams, Galvin, Robins and Nann.
79.11 The mayor noted that the meeting had been in session for just over two hours and declared that he would adjourn for a refreshment break from 7.30pm to 8.03pm.
79.12 The mayor reconvened the meeting at 8.03pm.
79.13 Councillor Taylor thanked the mayor and closed the debate and confirmed the amendments could not be accepted. He therefore hoped that the budget proposals would be approved and recommended it to Council.
79.14 The mayor stated that in view of the fact that the amendments related to the General Fund, he intended to put each one to the vote.
79.15 However, he would call on the Chief Finance Officer to confirm the budgetary position should any amendment be carried and have an impact on the overall budget as necessary. He would then put the substantive recommendations to the vote as outlined in the procedural rules and also noted that the outcome of the voting would be recorded in full.
79.16 The mayor then put the Conservative Group amendment 1 to the vote.
|
|
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
1 |
Alexander |
x |
|
|
28 |
Lyons |
Not present |
||
|
2 |
Allen |
x |
|
|
29 |
Mackey |
x |
|
|
|
3 |
Asaduzzaman |
x |
|
|
30 |
McGregor |
x |
|
|
|
4 |
Atkinson |
Not present |
31 |
McLeay |
|
x |
|
||
|
5 |
Bagaeen |
x |
|
|
32 |
McNair |
|
x |
|
|
6 |
Baghoth |
x |
|
|
33 |
Meadows |
|
x |
|
|
7 |
Burden |
x |
|
|
34 |
Miller |
x |
|
|
|
8 |
Cattell |
x |
|
|
35 |
Muten |
x |
|
|
|
9 |
Czolak |
x |
|
|
36 |
Nann |
x |
|
|
|
10 |
Daniel |
x |
|
|
37 |
O’Quinn |
x |
|
|
|
11 |
Davis |
|
x |
|
38 |
Pickett |
|
x |
|
|
12 |
De Oliveira |
x |
|
|
39 |
Pumm |
Not present |
||
|
13 |
Earthey |
x |
|
|
40 |
Robins |
x |
|
|
|
14 |
Evans |
x |
|
|
41 |
Robinson |
x |
|
|
|
15 |
Fishleigh |
|
|
x |
42 |
Rowkins |
x |
|
|
|
16 |
Fowler |
x |
|
|
43 |
Sankey |
x |
|
|
|
17 |
Galvin |
x |
|
|
44 |
Shanks |
|
x |
|
|
18 |
Gauge |
Not present |
45 |
Sheard |
x |
|
|
||
|
19 |
Goddard |
x |
|
|
46 |
Simon |
x |
|
|
|
20 |
Goldsmith |
Not present |
47 |
Sykes |
|
x |
|
||
|
21 |
Grimshaw |
x |
|
|
48 |
Taylor |
x |
|
|
|
22 |
Guilmant |
x |
|
|
49 |
Theobald |
|
x |
|
|
23 |
Helliwell |
x |
|
|
50 |
Thomson |
x |
|
|
|
24 |
Hewitt |
x |
|
|
51 |
West |
|
x |
|
|
25 |
Hill |
|
x |
|
52 |
Wilkinson |
x |
|
|
|
26 |
Hogan |
|
x |
|
53 |
Williams |
x |
|
|
|
27 |
Loughran |
x |
|
|
54 |
Winder |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
37 |
11 |
1 |
The mayor confirmed that the budget resolution had been carried by 37 votes to 11 with 1 abstention.
RESOLVED:
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 2025/26, 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 2025/26 of £264.819m;
iv) The 2025/26 budget allocations to services as set out in Appendix 1 incorporating budget savings proposals detailed at Appendix 2,
v) The changes to Fees & Charges set out in Appendix 3;
vi) The one-off resource allocations as set out in the table at paragraph 6.5.
vii) A recommended working balance of £9.000m (approximately 3.4% of the net budget) to be maintained or replenished over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.
2) That Council notes plans to address future projected budget shortfalls set out in the 4-Year Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix 4.
3) That Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2025/26 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 10.12;
ii) The capital resources and proposed borrowing included at Annex A of the Capital Strategy;
iii) The Capital Investment Programme for 2025/26 of £246.946m included at Appendix 5 incorporating allocations to strategic funds.
4) 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 2025.
5) That Council notes and considers the Equalities Impact Assessments to cover all relevant budget proposals as set out in Appendix 7.
6) 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 19.
7) 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 12.1.
8) Formal Council Tax Resolution
1. It be noted that on 23 January 2025 the Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2025/26:
(a) for the whole Council area as 95,160.3 (Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)); and
(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate: -
Rottingdean Parish – 1,785.8
Hanover Crescent Enclosure – 39.9
Marine Square Enclosure – 72.2
Royal Crescent Enclosure – 29.5
2. Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 (excluding Parish precepts) is £197,624,000.
3. That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2025/26 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
(a) £886,200,705 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils;
(b) £688,516,365 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act;
(c) £197,684,340 being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act);
(d) £2,077.38 being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts);
(e) £94,668 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;
(f) £2,076.39 being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by the Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special items relates;
(g) £2,110.18 Rottingdean Parish
£2,353.88 Hanover Crescent
(h) £2,251.61 Marine Square
£2,435.88 Royal Crescent
being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the relevant amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for the dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.
|
Valuation Band: |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
|
Parts of the Council's area |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
Rottingdean Parish |
1,172.32 |
1,406.79 |
1,641.25 |
1,875.72 |
2,110.18 |
2,579.11 |
3,048.04 |
3,516.97 |
4,220.36 |
|
Hanover Crescent |
1,307.71 |
1,569.25 |
1,830.80 |
2,092.34 |
2,353.88 |
2,876.96 |
3,400.05 |
3,923.13 |
4,707.76 |
|
Marine Square |
1,250.89 |
1,501.07 |
1,751.25 |
2,001.43 |
2,251.61 |
2,751.97 |
3,252.33 |
3,752.68 |
4,503.22 |
|
Royal Crescent |
1,353.27 |
1,623.92 |
1,894.57 |
2,165.23 |
2,435.88 |
2,977.19 |
3,518.49 |
4,059.80 |
4,871.76 |
|
All other parts of the council’s area |
1,153.55 |
1,384.26 |
1,614.97 |
1,845.68 |
2,076.39 |
2,537.81 |
2,999.23 |
3,460.65 |
4,152.78 |
* Entitled to disabled relief
4. To note that the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Fire Authority have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below.
|
Valuation Band: |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner |
148.28 |
177.94 |
207.60 |
237.25 |
266.91 |
326.22 |
385.54 |
444.85 |
533.82 |
* Entitled to disabled relief
|
Valuation Band: |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
East Sussex Fire Authority |
62.49 |
74.99 |
87.49 |
99.99 |
112.49 |
137.49 |
162.49 |
187.48 |
224.98 |
* Entitled to disabled relief
5. That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2025/26 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings.
|
Valuation Band: |
A* |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
|
Parts of the Council's area |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
Rottingdean Parish |
1,383.09 |
1,659.72 |
1,936.34 |
2,212.96 |
2,489.58 |
3,042.82 |
3,596.07 |
4,149.30 |
4,979.16 |
|
Hanover Crescent |
1,518.48 |
1,822.18 |
2,125.89 |
2,429.58 |
2,733.28 |
3,340.67 |
3,948.08 |
4,555.46 |
5,466.56 |
|
Marine Square |
1,461.66 |
1,754.00 |
2,046.34 |
2,338.67 |
2,631.01 |
3,215.68 |
3,800.36 |
4,385.01 |
5,262.02 |
|
Royal Crescent |
1,564.04 |
1,876.85 |
2,189.66 |
2,502.47 |
2,815.28 |
3,440.90 |
4,066.52 |
4,692.13 |
5,630.56 |
|
All other parts of the council’s area |
1,364.32 |
1,637.19 |
1,910.06 |
2,182.92 |
2,455.79 |
3,001.52 |
3,547.26 |
4,092.98 |
4,911.58 |
* Entitled to disabled relief
6. In accordance with Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Council determines its relevant basic amount of council tax for the financial year 2025/26 is not excessive.
80 Supplementary Financial Information for Budget Council
80.1 Note:
The item was taken into consideration as part of the overall budget debate and included in the votes on the amendments to the General Fund Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2025/26 and Supplementary Financial Information recommendation 1 and the final vote on the overall General Fund Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2025/26 as detailed under Item 79 above.
RESOLVED:
1) That Council uses the statutory budget calculation, and the Council Tax Resolution set out in this report to derive a 4.99% council tax increase and for the basis of debate at the meeting.
81 Housing Revenue Account Budget & Capital Investment Programme 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy
81.1 The mayor noted that the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Investment Programme 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy had been taken into consideration as part of the overall budget debate as detailed under Item 79 above.
81.2 The mayor then put the recommendations as detailed in the report to the vote and called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn followed by each of the Independent Members. Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Investment Programme 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.
Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Investment Programme 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy
|
|
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
|
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
1 |
Alexander |
x |
|
|
28 |
Lyons |
Not present |
||
|
2 |
Allen |
x |
|
|
29 |
Mackey |
x |
|
|
|
3 |
Asaduzzaman |
x |
|
|
30 |
McGregor |
x |
|
|
|
4 |
Atkinson |
Not present |
31 |
McLeay |
x |
|
|
||
|
5 |
Bagaeen |
x |
|
|
32 |
McNair |
|
x |
|
|
6 |
Baghoth |
x |
|
|
33 |
Meadows |
|
x |
|
|
7 |
Burden |
x |
|
|
34 |
Miller |
x |
|
|
|
8 |
Cattell |
x |
|
|
35 |
Muten |
x |
|
|
|
9 |
Czolak |
x |
|
|
36 |
Nann |
x |
|
|
|
10 |
Daniel |
x |
|
|
37 |
O’Quinn |
x |
|
|
|
11 |
Davis |
x |
|
|
38 |
Pickett |
x |
|
|
|
12 |
De Oliveira |
x |
|
|
39 |
Pumm |
Not present |
||
|
13 |
Earthey |
x |
|
|
40 |
Robins |
x |
|
|
|
14 |
Evans |
x |
|
|
41 |
Robinson |
x |
|
|
|
15 |
Fishleigh |
x |
|
|
42 |
Rowkins |
x |
|
|
|
16 |
Fowler |
x |
|
|
43 |
Sankey |
x |
|
|
|
17 |
Galvin |
x |
|
|
44 |
Shanks |
x |
|
|
|
18 |
Gauge |
Not present |
45 |
Sheard |
x |
|
|
||
|
19 |
Goddard |
x |
|
|
46 |
Simon |
x |
|
|
|
20 |
Goldsmith |
Not present |
47 |
Sykes |
x |
|
|
||
|
21 |
Grimshaw |
x |
|
|
48 |
Taylor |
x |
|
|
|
22 |
Guilmant |
x |
|
|
49 |
Theobald |
|
x |
|
|
23 |
Helliwell |
x |
|
|
50 |
Thomson |
x |
|
|
|
24 |
Hewitt |
x |
|
|
51 |
West |
x |
|
|
|
25 |
Hill |
x |
|
|
52 |
Wilkinson |
x |
|
|
|
26 |
Hogan |
|
x |
|
53 |
Williams |
x |
|
|
|
27 |
Loughran |
x |
|
|
54 |
Winder |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
45 |
4 |
0 |
81.3 The mayor confirmed that the recommendations had been carried by 45 votes to 4 with 0 abstentions.
81.4 RESOLVED:
1) Approved the HRA Revenue Budget for 2025/26 as outlined in table 1 of the main report and Appendix 1.
2) Approved the new Capital Programme Budget of £77.765m for 2025/26 be agreed as part of the revised capital budget of £111.098m (which includes reprofiles of £33.333m from 2024/25).
3) Approved the earmarking of £1m reserves against disrepair claims for 2025/26.
4) Approved the 5-year capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.
82 Close of Meeting
The meeting concluded at 9:30pm
|
Signed
|
Chair |
|
|
Dated this |
day of
|
2025 |