Date of meeting: 16 October 2025

A maximum period of fifteen minutes in total shall be made available at each meeting of the Executive for questions from Members of the Council.

The questions included on the list of questions referred to above shall be taken as read at the Cabinet meeting. The question will be answered either orally or at the discretion of the Chair by a written answer circulated after the meeting. Officers may assist the Leader or a Cabinet Member with technical answers to questions. No supplementary questions shall be permitted.

The following written questions have been received from Members:

(1) Councillor Meadows- Get Sussex Working Plan

Given unemployment has risen considerably since central Government has come in, how will this plan mitigate the effects of higher inflation and significantly higher National Insurance contributions from employers? The NI increase, resulting in employers laying off staff or not recruiting at all, coupled with higher inflation, are the two key factors in Sussex not working.

(2) Councillor McNair- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove

Will this scheme encourage the uptake of illegal scooters?

(3) Councillor McNair- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove

How will the council stop scooters riding through red lights and riding on pavements?

(4) Councillor Meadows- E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove

What makes the council scheme e-scooters safer than illegal e-scooters? Advising helmets are worn is a totally insufficient suggestion.

(5) Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex

What is this report on Women’s football about as we've been denied access?

(6) Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex

Is this £1m expenditure for a new training ground for women's football. If so, is that expenditure within Brighton and Hove's city limits? Where is it going to be built?

(7) Councillor Meadows- Women’s Football in Sussex

If it is to be built outside the city limits, why is the council paying for it?

(8) Councillor Sykes – TBM Month 5

What is the current CT collection success rate in-year and how has this changed over the past 2 years?

(9) Councillor Sykes – TBM Month 5

To the background of the difficult financial circumstances of the council in which we are permanently under spending and recruitment freezes, the Administration continues to commit to substantial additional revenue spend commitments that are essentially discretionary, such as early Local Government Reorganisation, a less economic /more expensive option for the new King Alfred Centre, and new senior staff roles to support the political Cabinet. Is this a sustainable approach?

(10) Councillor Sykes- TBM Month 5

What are the administration's plans for closed school buildings that are costing us an extra £200k of revenue funding this year to maintain?

(11) Councillor Sykes- TBM Month 5

What is a 'functional alignment saving' (p409) and does the underachievement of this saving by nearly £1 million this year have any lessons or implications for savings expected under Local Government Reorganisation?

(12) Councillor West - E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove

Research shows many issues of concern have been identified in e-scooter trials. E-scooter trial problems include injuries to users and pedestrians, especially vulnerable groups like the visually impaired, due to dangerous riding, poor infrastructure, and a lack of awareness about the speed and quietness of e-scooters. Pavement obstruction from parked rental scooters, illegal use of private scooters, and a lack of clear legislation have also been reported, causing safety concerns and social exclusion. A government evaluation of scooter trials also showed a high modal shift of over 50% from walking and cycling, leading to concern over the impact upon fitness and health. Given the considerable weight of concerning evidence of negative impacts of e-scooter trials, how does the administration assure that these issues won’t occur here too?

(13) Councillor West- TBM Month 5

With 26% of the current year's substantial package of budget savings at risk of not being delivered (para 3.2), how confident are Cabinet that the measures they are taking will resolve this, and how credible does Cabinet believe the Council’s ability is to deliver up the humongous savings targets projected for the next three years?

(14) Councillor West- TBM Month 5

Para 3.6 lists other options being explored, including the alarming suggestion of stopping “non-essential services” and using up risk provision. What seems to be missing throughout this is the most obvious question of asking the Government to stop austerity and to instead fund a restoration of local authority services that are vital to the well-being of our communities and economy. Why is that action seemingly not included in the Cabinet report?

(15) Councillor McLeay- Housing Supply & Asset Management

What safeguards are in place to ensure disposals do not undermine long-term community or service needs?

(16) Councillor McLeay- Housing Supply & Asset Management

How will the 25% reduction in maintenance costs be achieved without compromising safety or service delivery?

(17) Councillor Hill– E-scooter Trial proposal for Brighton & Hove

Will steps be taken in conjunction with this trial to curb illegal e-scooter usage which is already prevalent in the city?