Agenda item - Deputations from members of the public

A list of deputations received by the due date of 10am on 13 July 2026 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum for the meeting.

18.1    The mayor reported that two deputations had been received from members of the public and invited the lead spokespersons to come forward and address the council.

18.2    Guy Hall presented the deputation concerning Brighton 53 Tram Project.

18.3    Councillor Sheard replied:

I'm answering on behalf of Councillor Robins as he couldn't be here this evening. I'd like, first of all, I just want to thank you for bringing this deputation on this item, which is such a big part of our city's heritage. Your effort to restore this once beloved lost piece of our history is truly a monument to the power of our community and its dedication to our history.

The Council have met with you and the Brighton Tram City Society on several occasions regarding their proposal. While the proposal is in no doubt an exciting one, at this time a direct pledge would not be granted. This is not specifically aimed at the Society, as we have given the same response to all organisations who have contacted the Council recently about proposals for the site.

At this moment in time, Home Farm Stanmer is currently being advertised on the open market and the Council has requested that anyone interested on the site submit to an expression of interest, a point you referenced in your speech. The Council has worked towards advertising Home Farm since the summer of 2025 and the Tram 53 Society has been one of the groups engaged with on this and as such has been invited to submit an EOI. We have informed the society of what the next steps are, but we are happy to reach out again if you have any questions.

At this moment in time, no decision has been made as the EOI process is open until the 1st September 2026. Once that deadline has passed, the Council will review the EOIs and work with its management agents to shortlist and invite full tenders. This process is important for the Council to follow as it allows for the Council to attract a wide audience of potential tenants and give the Council the opportunity to find the best considerations for this historic site. That includes traditional and grade listed agricultural buildings and land.

While this isn't the enthusiastic yes I'm sure you were hoping for, I hope that you don't feel too disheartened that this project of bringing back these wheels from our history is an exciting one and I hope you will continue to serve this monument of our heart and hopefully it won't be too long until we see this rolling back into Brighton.

18.4    Lou Vaughan presented the deputation concerning Wellington House Day Centre.

18.5    Councillor Alexander replied:

Thank you, Lou, for your deputation and for setting out so clearly the concerns of families, carers, and supporters of the Wellington House Day Centre. As I said previously, we do recognise the strength of feeling about this proposal and the value placed on the service by the people who attend, their families, and the staff who work there.

It is important to be clear though that no decision has yet been made to close Wellington House. The decision taken at Budget Council in February was a budget proposal only. A final decision will be made by Cabinet in September as part of reviewing a report that will set out for feedback from all those who took part in the 12 weeks of consultation.

We have heard the concerns raised about the projected savings and the different unit costs of the service that have been referenced during the consultation. These differences are part due to the different moments in time when the calculations were made in relation to a change in the number of people attending and the number of staff working there at that moment.

The Cabinet report will set out the latest financial position at the time of it being published, including the current cost of running the service, the likely cost of alternative provision, and the extent to which the proposed savings remain deliverable. The Council's statutory duties to meet eligible assessed needs will remain unchanged. The proposal to have the needs of the 21 people met by independent sector providers is not about providing less. It is about providing differently and in a more cost-effective way.

So, whilst this proposal was part of budget setting, we know that it was not only a financial issue. We do recognise that it is about people's relationships, the routines, and family support. If Cabinet agrees any change to the current service then you can expect careful transition planning that is personally centred and co-produced with individuals, families, carers, and providers.

Again, I want to thank families, carers, staff, and supporters for the time, care and detail they put into the consultation and this deputation. The issues raised will be taken really seriously and will be reflected in the report to Cabinet before any final decision is made. Thank you.

18.6    RESOLVED:

          That Council noted the following deputations:

1) Brighton 53 Tram Project; and

2) Wellington House Day Centre.