Agenda item - Leader and Portfolio Holder's Announcements

To receive announcements by the Leader and Portfolio Holders.

49.1    Leader of the Council, Councillor Bella Sankey, gave the following communication:

Thank you very much Mr Mayor. I would like to start by placing on record my heartfelt thanks to all of our Officers and our staff and to all of the Councillors in the Chamber tonight. I'm so proud to lead this organisation. We have an amazing, diverse, passionate workforce and set of Councillors that strive to deliver high quality public services.

This year has been one of change and progress as we've appointed a fantastic new Chief Executive in Jess Gibbons, new Corporate Directors Deb Austin and Genette Laws, and started an important programme of culture change, including moving to a Cabinet system.

This year saw the election, of course, of the Labour Government, turning the tide on 14 years of Tory chaos, austerity and managed decline of our public services. Since we took control of this Authority in May 2023, we've done everything we can to help get our city back on its feet, and while it'd be impossible to list all of our  achievements today in the short time available, in the Christmas spirit I would like to highlight 12.

Mr Mayor, on the first day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered the highest number of homes since 2013.

A home for everyone was a key pledge of our manifesto, and I'm pleased that in our first year leading the Council, we saw the highest number of homes delivered across the city in a year since 2013. That's 1075 new homes built in 2023-24, including new council homes, and that is just the beginning. We want to go so much further. This year we've also passed a new Housing Allocations Policy, creating a fairer framework for council home allocation, and we have, of course, introduced our landlord licencing scheme.

Mr Mayor, on the second day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered the best EV charging network outside of London and the highest number of homes since

2013.

Earlier this month, we published our Decarbonization Pathway Study which provides our city's road map for a low carbon energy system. We commissioned this study when we came into administration last year and realised that, despite all the rhetoric, the Green administration had no practical plan. The study identifies 110 high-impact projects that we're now working with partners to develop appropriate pipelines and investment vehicles for. The study makes clear that the deployment of solar is key, and so we're pleased to have announced the largest roll-out of solar in this Council's history which includes the process of installing 730 solar panels at various locations across the city, including 292 on the roof of the Prince Regent swimming complex, delivering clean power and reduced costs for particularly energy intensive building. Currently just over 13% of households in our city live in fuel poverty and our approach to decarbonisation will not just help us achieve net zero, it will also help households by reducing energy bills.

The key to net zero, of course, is the decarbonisation of our transport system. That's why we're delighted to have been named as the Local Authority with the best on-street electric vehicle charging coverage in the UK outside of London. This is a big boast for a small city. Despite this recognition, we won't be stopping. We want to go further and thanks to a £2.8 million government grant, we will be installing an additional 500 public electric vehicle charging points every year for the next three years.

Mr Mayor, on the third day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

We were delighted this year to become one of the first Councils in the country to introduce a school’s admission priority for children on free school meals, aimed to give some of our city's most disadvantaged pupils a greater choice of secondary school. Described by the Sutton Trust as a bold step forward, it was one of our first steps of many to achieving greater equality in our education system and ensuring that every child in our city has the best possible start in life.

Mr Mayor, on the fourth day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered a mental health pilot in schools, a free schools meals policy, the best EV network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

Our trailblazing mental health pilot for year nines is another illustration of our ambitions for our young people. So far, we've seen 63 young people accessing this offer, with a further 14 young people due to start counselling after the Christmas break.

We know that mental health is a crucial factor in children and young people's overall well-being and their ability to access education and we hope this pilot will lead to a larger roll out so that we can support all of our young people in school attain and achieve and most importantly, of course, attend.

Mr Mayor, on the fifth day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

Bathing water classifications published by DEFRA this month have seen Hove, Brighton Kemp Town and Saltdean rated excellent and Brighton Central and the newly designated Rottingdean Beach rated good. Being designated as a bathing water site means that the beaches benefit from water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency through the summer months to assess if action is needed to cut pollution levels. In Brighton & Hove though we have gone one step further introducing an innovative year-round volunteer-led seawater testing programme. I'm really pleased that this has been funded by Southern Water after myself and Peter Kyle MP approached them and asked them to do so. Samples are being taken and collated by trained volunteers using specialist equipment, which is being stored at the King Alfred and run by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the Council.

Mr Mayor, on the sixth day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

We're developing a new residential home for disabled children and young people in Brighton & Hove. This will be created by converting a vacated wing of Ireland Lodge. The new facility, Rainbow Lodge, is due to open in the spring of next year and it will provide full-time care for up to five children with complex needs.

Creating this new service will allow us to improve our residential care offer within the city, keeping children close to their friends and family which is so important, and enabling them to attend our Ofsted rated outstanding special schools. I'm also proud to say this year that our Children's Services were rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Mr Mayor, on the seventh day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered spades in the ground on Madeira Terraces, an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

We're so proud to be the administration that has finally seen the Madeira Terraces restoration get under way, and the last few months have obviously seen real momentum on this project, driven by our administration and in partnership with our local community. From successfully securing £750,000 from Heritage England, to appointing contractors and finally starting work. It's been amazing to see all of this happen following years of inaction.

Mr Mayor on the eighth day of Christmas, our Labour administration achieved Library Service of Sanctuary status, spades on the ground on Madeira Terraces, an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

Brighton & Hove is proudly a City of Sanctuary and we are committed to doing everything we can to foster a welcoming environment and direct support for asylum seekers and refugees. This year our amazing libraries have been specifically recognised as places of inclusion and welcome. Our city's unwavering commitment to being a welcoming city was most clearly demonstrated over the summer when riots swept through the country and our response in Brighton & Hove was just as it should be. A peaceful protest to counter the threat posed by the far-right was Brighton & Hove at its best. It sent a message of solidarity with all of our communities and made clear that racist violence will never be welcome on our streets.

Mr Mayor, on the nineth day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered new play equipment in our city parks, Library Service of Sanctuary status, spades in the ground on Madeira Terraces, an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

Children of all ages and abilities should have access to play areas and equipment for enjoyment, as well as to support childhood development and socialisation. Our administration is proud of our Playground Improvement Programme working with communities, we've improved accessibility crucially, and created inclusive play and learning opportunities for our children and young people.

Mr Mayor, on the tenth day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered improved air quality, new play equipment, Library Service of Sanctuary status, spades in the ground on Madeira Terraces, an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, our Labour Administration delivered accessible public toilets, improved air quality, new play equipment, Library Service of Sanctuary status, spades in the ground on Madeira Terraces, an in-house residential home for disabled children, a citizen science seawater testing project, a mental health pilot in schools, a free school meals policy, the best EV charging network outside of London, and the highest number of homes since 2013.

This year, the Council's toilet reopening and refurbishment programme has seen many toilets reopened and refurbished, as well as changing places toilets.

And Mr Mayor, finally, on the 12th day of Christmas, our Labour administration delivered the Brighton & Hove Winter Fuel Payment, which I know we will come on to discuss later on this evening.

On that note, I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.