Agenda item - Leader and Portfolio Holder's Announcements

To receive announcements by the Leader and Portfolio Holders.

34a.1  The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders’ gave the following communications:

“We gather this afternoon in the shadow of tragedy. The recent terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, was a vile betrayal of everything we stand for. Days later, a violent hate filled attack on Peacehaven Mosque just across our boundary shook our community again. These acts of hate are not just attacks on places of worship, they are attacks on all of us, on our way of life, on our tolerant and diverse society. Let me be clear. Hate has no place in Brighton & Hove, nor anywhere in Sussex. We must redouble our efforts to root it out.

This week is Hate Crime Awareness Week. I urge every resident and councillor, if you witness or experience hate, please report it. Stand together, stand firm. Everyone in Brighton & Hove has the right to feel safe.

October is also Black History Month. This year's theme, ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, is a tribute to resilience and strength of the black community. Power is not about title, it's about collective courage and unity. As a proudly mixed heritage person, pride is the golden thread of black communities worldwide. I'm proud that there are so many events going on in the city to celebrate Black History Month. Please do get involved and ensure that black voices are heard, valued and celebrated in our city.

We are living through a time of change. Since our Special Full Council, we have submitted a forward-thinking proposal for local government reorganisation – a five unitary option shaped by local consultation and a vision for a stronger, more equal Sussex. The government's consultation could launch as early as next month, with decisions by March, legislation before summer, and new authorities live by April 2028. This is real public sector reform driven by local voices and we are bringing power home. Our devolution deal will deliver £1.4 billion of new investment into Sussex and Brighton over the next 30 years, £38 million a year guaranteed for a new strategic Mayoral Authority. And this is just the start. This is money we would not otherwise have money for jobs, homes and opportunity. I want to pay tribute to Councillor Hewitt for his outstanding work to deliver this, and I'm excited about the next step we hope to take tonight. 

Last month our Labour government confirmed £20 million for Whitehawk over the next decade. Pride in Place funding with residents at the heart of decision making. No more projects imposed from above. This is a new era. Local people shaping their own future and I know that Councillors Williams and McGregor will ensure that our Whitehawk residents are empowered in their decision making over this. 

Our regeneration has continued across the city with the opening of Temple on Kemptown seafront, as well as sand sports in Hove. It's good to see our inclusive growth agenda recognised as we move from 21st to 16th in the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Good Growth for Cities index.

Regeneration is not just a word, Madam Mayor, it's a promise. Led by Councillor Robins, and assisted by Councillor Robinson, our plans for King Alfred are bold and beautiful - developing civic infrastructure for generations to come. We want to hear from everyone, users, sports clubs, neighbours, future residents – the deadline to share your views on our designs is the 31st of this month.

And, Madam Mayor, we will get Britain and Brighton working. At our Special Council earlier this year, we discussed in this chamber the need for better government support for those facing barriers to employment, including people with disabilities and other complex barriers. Well, our Labour government is now delivering through a £15.6 million grant. We will deliver the Connect to Work programme together with West Sussex, supporting disabled people, care leavers like we just saw in that video, homeless people, veterans, refugees and others into work.

Fourteen years of austerity and the pandemic have left scars on our society, but with a Labour government and a Labour-led council, and Councillor Daniels in the lead on this project, we will help people overcome barriers and gain the dignity of work. 

Small businesses are the lifeblood of Brighton & Hove. Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman, our small business ambassador, will host his second surgery at Jubilee Library on the 16th of October. Our citywide economic plan is about skills, jobs and sustainable growth, and we will build on the creativity and independence that define our city, making Brighton & Hove fairer, more sustainable and more productive.

With the bold leadership of Councillors Taylor and Nann, we're tackling homelessness head on. We will directly purchase up to 200 temporary homes for homeless families, investing £10 million. Vulnerable families and crucially, children and young people, will be at the heart of our housing and homelessness strategy. Too many children are growing up in temporary accommodation in this city and that must stop. We will use council owned sites like Slipper Baths and South Downs Riding School for housing. No new eligibility criteria, just prioritising those most in need.

Our new food waste collection service is off to a flying start under the leadership of Councillor Rowkins. 11,000 properties are already receiving the service with all rounds completed on time. When issues arise, our crews are responding quickly. 

We're building a cleaner, greener Brighton & Hove, and we've also announced a new neighborhood team to work with our council tenants on improving their places. And we are investing in our communities. £400,000 in grants from our Community Catalyst Fund will support local groups and voluntary organisations, improving well-being and tackling poverty.

Nominations for Freedom of the City are now open. Our city is full of remarkable people, so please consider nominating a worthy recipient. 

And I'm delighted, as you've already mentioned, Madam Mayor, that we've been awarded the Gold Award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, a testament to the hard work of our staff and to you as our armed forces champion. So thank you for everything you've done to achieve this for our residents.

Madam Mayor, I was pleased to host the Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Climate Change last month to set out how we are leading a just transition here in Brighton &Hove. And of course, we are very pleased that our Labour government has now announced that Sussex train services will be taken back into public control from May next year. We are calling time on 30 years of failure, frustration and fragmentation, returning our railways to the service of passengers.

Madam Mayor, this is Labour in action, compassion, ambition and delivery. We are building a city that is fairer, safer and more inclusive. We are investing in people, in places and in hope. Let us stand together against hate, for equality, for opportunity. Let us shape a future where every voice is heard, every community is valued and every resident can thrive. 

I'd like to close by wishing a happy Diwali to all those celebrating in the coming weeks. Thank you, Madam Mayor.”