Date of meeting: 23 July 2026
Proposer: Councillor Hill
Seconder: Councillor Earthey
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Green Group and Brighton and Hove Independent Group
This Council notes:
1) The rising frequency and intensity of heatwaves, with Met Office projections suggesting the UK could experience 45°C by 2056. In June, France recorded 2,025 excess deaths primarily amongst those over the age of 45.
2) Our housing, schools, care homes and other indoor spaces are maladapted to support vulnerable people in extreme heat. Many outdoor areas lack sufficient shade and water fountains.
3) Extreme heat was a barrier for some people being able to vote in the Goldsmid By-election and is an increasing risk to the democratic process.
This Council resolves to:
Request:
1) That the Leader of the Council considers writing to the Minister for Labour to lobby for legislation mandating maximum workplace temperatures.
2) A Cabinet report on a council wide heatwave strategy using the TUC’s Too Hot to Work Guidance to guide our responsibilities to Council staff and to consider a recommendation for the Council to formally endorse the Trades Union Congress’s Campaign for a Maximum Workplace Temperature. Other areas for consideration in a proposed Cabinet strategy include:
· Installing cooling units such as air conditioning or air source heat pumps, especially in care homes and local schools. These could be supported by solar panels to reduce their carbon emissions impact and integrated into wider retrofitting work.
· Working with the local bus network operators to ensure the safety of both their staff and passengers during heatwaves
3) That consideration is given by officers to the potential for inclusion in our Council’s City Plan extreme heat and how to integrate adaption to this into urban and spatial planning.
Supporting Information:
UK could see 45°C by 2056, scientists reflect on 1976 heatwave anniversary - Met Office
TUC: Heat – The case for a maximum temperature at work https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Temperature.pdf
https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/it-too-hot-work
https://www.tuc.org.uk/guidance/there-maximum-temperature-workplaces