Council Agenda Item 19

Subject: Petition for Debate 

Date of meeting: 23 July 2026

Report of: Director of Governance & Law 

Contact Officer: Name: Anthony Soyinka

Tel: 01273 291006

Email: anthony.soyinka@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected: All 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

1.         SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1 Under the Council’s Petition Scheme if a petition contains more than 1,250 signatures and is not petition requesting officer evidence, it will be debated by the Full Council.

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 That the petition is noted.

3.        RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION / CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS:

3.1      To receive the following petition:

Protect our Local Independent Businesses

Say NO to the Red Route, on the Western Road, Brighton & Hove, from Holland road to Montpelier. 

Why the Red Route is Harmful, to your local area. 

o This red route could disproportionately affect those who rely on assistance to access our businesses. Customers with disabilities, elderly patrons, and those with limited mobility often depend on close and convenient parking or drop-off points. By eliminating these essential access points, we risk alienating a significant portion of our customer base and compromising the principle of equality for all members of our community.   

This creates a serious breach of the Equality Act 2010, which protects disabled individuals from indirect discrimination by public authorities. 

o Reduced Foot Traffic: The implementation of a red route will significantly reduce the number of people passing by our local shops, leading to fewer customers and lower sales, loss of jobs. 

o Parking Restrictions: Red routes often come with strict parking regulations, making it difficult for customers to stop and shop at our beloved independent businesses. 

o Increased Delivery Challenges: Local businesses rely on timely deliveries. A red route could disrupt delivery schedules, leading to delays and increased costs. Additionally, we would have to use residential side roads and as this is the main delivery route for suppliers, complicating logistics.  Loading and Delivering around the city from our own shops. 

o Loss of Community Character: Our independent businesses are part of what makes our community unique. Losing them would mean losing a piece of our local identity and charm. 

Stand with Us! 

We urge you to join us in opposing the red route. Together, we can protect our local retail and ensure that they continue to thrive and serve our community. Your support matters! 

o Shop Local: Make a conscious effort to support local businesses during this challenging time. 

o Raise Awareness: Share this message with your friends and family. Let them know how crucial it is to support our local economy. 

o The cost of this Red route is £250,000 on a road that was not even named in the busiest roads in Brighton & Hove. 

4.         PROCEDURE:

4.1 The petition will be debated at the Council meeting in accordance with the agreed protocol:

(i) The Lead petitioner will be invited by the Mayor to present the petition and will have up to 3 minutes in which to outline the petition and confirm the number of signatures;

(ii) The Mayor will then open the matter up for debate by councillors for period of 15 minutes and will first call on the relevant Cabinet Member to respond to the petition and move a proposed response. The Mayor will then call on those councillors who have indicated a desire to speak in the matter, before calling on the relevant Cabinet Member to respond to the debate;

(iii) An amendment to the recommendation in paragraph 2.1 of the report or to add additional recommendations should be submitted by 10.00am on the day before the meeting; otherwise it will be subject to the Mayor’s discretion as to being appropriate.  Any such amendment will need to be formally moved and seconded at the meeting;

(iv) After the 15 minutes set aside for the debate, the Mayor will then formally put:

(v) (a) Any amendments in the order in which they are moved, and

(b) The substantive recommendation(s) as amended (if amended).