Cabinet Agenda Item 180(a)
Subject: Member Questions
Date of meeting: 14 May 2026
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 - City Plan - formal commencement of plan making
Has there been any consultation with ward councillors concerning the City Plan, especially if changes are proposed for their wards?
2. Councillor Meadows - City Plan - formal commencement of plan making
How can ward councillors input into the City Plan?
3. Councillor Meadows - City Plan - formal commencement of plan making
Which scrutiny committee did any consultation possibly go through? When?
4. Councillor McNair - City Plan - formal commencement of plan making
What areas in Patcham & Hollingbury and Westdene & Hove Park are earmarked for change and development, for example for housing and Park & Ride?
5. Councillor Meadows- Improving Electric Charging Infrastructure
Will ward councillors and residents be given ample opportunity to see where proposed charging points are going to be located to help prevent mistakes/other issues arising?
6. Councillor Meadows- Improving Electric Charging Infrastructure
Why aren't consultations routinely emailed to ward councillors so we can advertise them to residents?
7. Councillor Meadows - Working towards cleaner air for Brighton & Hove
through improved smoke control areas
How will the proposed smoke free zone be enforced?
8. Councillor Meadows - Working towards cleaner air for Brighton & Hove
through improved smoke control areas
Will this larger smoke free zone lead to more neighbour disputes? How will the council help resolve them?
10. Councillor Meadows - Council Housing Asset Management Plan
Considering the costs, does the Council have any plans for bringing Seaside Homes in-house? Why/why not?
11. Councillor McLeay - Housing Safety and Quality: Our Improvement Journey
While I can see that fire risk assessment (FRA) remediation work is taking place, my understanding is that FRA findings are still not being shared with residents. Article 21A of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that the risks identified in FRAs, and the measures to address them, are communicated to residents and updated when assessments change. Can you confirm BHCC are now sharing FRA information with residents, and if not, why not?
12. Councillor Lademacher - Housing Safety and Quality: Our Improvement Journey
Given that the regulator of social housing issued BHCC with a C3 rating on August 2024 for 'serious failings' in delivering the safety and quality standard, and considering the additional duties arising from Awaab's Law, can you outline what assurances can be given to council tenants that reports of damp and mould and other emergency and urgent hazards will be resolved within the required timescales and what support can be provided to council tenants who have been living in unsafe conditions for extended periods of time?
13. Councillor Pickett - Working towards cleaner air for Brighton & Hove
through improved smoke control areas
Given that, as your report states, there is a risk that solid fuel appliances installed from 2026/27 may remain in use well beyond 2040, how will the council encourage or help those residents who feel financially unable to move on from heating using wood burning stoves and will there be financial aid for those struggling to do so?
14. Councillor West - Improving Electric Charging Infrastructure
The report sets an ambition of supporting transition to EV by 2040. It states 8,000 charge points will be needed. However the Cabinet is only planning to provide 6,000 by 2040, 75% of what is said to be required. Does the Cabinet member accept that the inadequacy of his plan seems set to hamper the city fully achieving this important element of net zero?
15. Councillor Sykes - Investing in subsidised bus travel
The negotiated fixed deal with bus operators is estimated at £11.3m (s3.5), yet the resulting budget pressure over the £11m approved budget for concessionary fares is £1.5m (s6.1), implying an overall cost of £12.5m. The financial implications are significant as they require an additional £1.5m of in-year savings, but the calculation of the origin of this £1.5m pressure is not clear. Please clarify and if necessary confirm that the total projected cost of covering concessionary fares in 2026-27 is indeed £12.5m.
16. Councillor Sykes - Investing in subsidised bus travel
Referencing the table in s3.7 please provide a separate figure, within the £200k funding to go beyond statutory provision, for the cost of providing subsidised fares to older persons travelling between 11pm and 3.59am on weekdays.