Council
Agenda Item 47 a
Subject: Appointments to Council, Outside Bodies and Partnerships 2026
Date of meeting: 1 October 2026
Report of: Chief Executive
Contact Officer: Name: Anthony Soyinka
Tel: 01273 29 1006
Email: Anthony.soyinka@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: All
Note: Urgency
By reason of the special circumstances below, and in accordance with section 100B(4)(b) of the 1972 Act, the Chair of the meeting has been consulted and is of the opinion that this item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
Note: Reasons for urgency
The special circumstances for non-compliance with Council Procedure Rule 3, Access to Information Procedure Rule 5 and Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), (items not considered unless the agenda is open to inspection at least five days in advance of the meeting) were that ongoing discussions with the Groups were not concluded in time for the report to be included in the agenda.
1.1 This report seeks Council approval to appoint Members to the Investment and Transport Committees of the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority.
1.2 This report also seeks to appoint council representatives to specified outside bodies for the 2026/27 municipal year.
2.1 That Council appoints one Member to the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority Investment Committee and two Members to the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority Transport Committee as set out at Appendix 1
2.2 That Council agrees the in-year changes to appointments on outside bodies as set out at Appendix 1.
Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority
3.1 The Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) is due to make appointments to its Investment Committee and Transport Committee at its meeting on 8 October 2026. Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) is therefore required to make its appointments at Full Council on 1 October 2026.
3.2 The political balance requirements for these committees are calculated by the SBSA and determined having regard to the requirements of the relevant regulatory requirements.
3.3 The appointments required for the Investment Committee are: one BHCC appointment, which must be Labour.
3.4 The appointments required for the Transport Committee are: two BHCC appointments, which must both be Labour;
3.5 The proposed appointments are set out at Appendix 1.
Outside Body Appointments
3.6 A number of Outside Body appointments are included in Appendix 1 to be updated in accordance with Council Procedure Rules.
4.1 The proposed nominations and allocations have been raised with the relevant Group Leaders and are in keeping with the Regulations governing the political balance of committees, calculated by the SBSA based on political balance across the region.
5.1 The Leaders of the impacted Political Groups have been consulted and provided their nominations.
6.1 There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations of this report.
Name of finance officer consulted: Haley Woollard
Date consulted: 01/10/2026
7.1 The proposals in this report comply with Section 15(1) of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989, which sets out the duty and principles regarding the allocation of seats to political groups.
Name of lawyer consulted: Elizabeth Culbert
Date consulted: 01/10/2026
8. Risk implications
8.1 If Council does not make the required appointments to the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority committees, Brighton & Hove City Council may not be represented when those committees are constituted by the Strategic Authority on 8 October 2026.
8.2 Failure to follow the notified political-balance allocations when making the Strategic Authority committee appointments could result in non-compliance with the applicable statutory requirements and expose the Council’s decision to legal challenge.
8.3 If the in-year outside-body appointments are not agreed, vacancies or outdated nominations may continue, reducing or interrupting the Council’s representation and influence on the relevant bodies and partnerships.
9.1 The Regulations provide for the distribution of seats amongst the political groups on an equitable basis.
10.1 There are no sustainability issues arising from the report.
11.1 Having taken into consideration the SBSA calculations and the requirement for outside body appointments, the nominations proposed are recommended to full Council.
Supporting Documentation
Appendix 1 - Appointments to Council, Outside Bodies and Partnerships