, 6 July 2025 - 20 July 2025

This report seeks agreement on the Budget assumptions and budget setting process for 2026/27

That Cabinet:

1)           Note the planning assumption of a Council Tax increase of 2.99% over the 4-year Medium-Term Financial Plan period and an Adult Social Care Precept of 2.00% or the equivalent in grant funding in 2026/27.

2)           Note the funding assumptions and net expenditure projections for 2026/27 including a projected budget shortfall of £39.765 million.

3)           Note the Medium-Term financial projections for 2026/27 to 2029/30 and the predicted budget gaps totalling over £95 million over the period.

4)           Agree the proposed budget development approach and that members will use this to develop 4-year medium-term service and financial plans and proposals for Budget Council consideration, including savings targets, to enable a legally balanced budget in 2026/27 and enable the Council Tax for the year to be set.

5)           Note that projections for next year and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will be updated following government funding announcements expected in Autumn 2025.

This report is the Annual Update on Housing Strategy

1)            That Cabinet consider and note the progress made towards the ambitions set out in the Housing Strategy 2024-29 and agrees actions to be undertaken in 2025-26 as set out at Appendix 1.

This report will seek to agree the Council Plan refresh and note the recommendations of the Corporate Peer Challenge report

1)           Cabinet recommends the updated Council Plan refresh at Appendix 1 to full Council for approval.

2)           Cabinet notes the achievements made since the Council Plan was adopted in July 2023 as set out in Appendix 2.

3)           Cabinet notes the progress made in relation to delivering the Council Plan in 2024/25 as detailed in Appendix 3.

4)           Cabinet notes the recommendations in the Corporate Peer Challenge at Appendix 4 and the response to these in the Council Plan Refresh and agrees a future report on progress to be brought to a future Cabinet meeting, as part of the quarterly performance update.

5)           Cabinet delegates to the Head of Cabinet Office, following consultation with the Leader, the authority to make changes to the design and layout of the documents before publication on the Council's website.

This report details a full options appraisal for the potential redevelopment of eight large panel system blocks across the city. The report includes recommended options, resourcing requirements, short-medium term information on the blocks and resident engagement.

St James House

1)           Cabinet agrees that in principle the preferred option for addressing the structural and strengthening issues identified in respect of St James House is the demolition and replacement of St James House with new homes in keeping with the housing needs of the city, and regeneration of the site.

2)           Cabinet agrees for officers to progress with the delivery of the design and feasibility work for the development, inclusive of demolition, planning, through appointment of a multi-disciplinary team.

3)           Cabinet agrees for officers to further explore options for the delivery mechanism of any regeneration scheme for St James House, including through Homes for Brighton & Hove LLP or direct council delivery. 

4)           Cabinet agrees to proceed to a consultation in respect of the preferred option with leaseholders, tenants, and other relevant stakeholders.

5)           Cabinet notes that subject to approval of recommendation in paragraph 2.1, then, following consultation with the Homemove Manager, may exercise discretion under the Allocations Policy to allocate Priority Band B to secure tenants of St James House seeking transfers to alternative council owned homes.

6)           Cabinet agrees for officers to develop and consult upon a Rehousing Policy and Local Lettings Plan which  would apply to the temporary and/or permanent rehousing of all Council tenants who are accommodated by the Council under a statutory duty and who are affected by the regeneration schemes of St James House and which incorporates the proposed tenant offer described in the report, including in relation to the priority of existing Council tenants of St James House for allocation to the new housing on the site, in keeping with the intention to offer right to return.  

7)           The Cabinet notes the support and offer to leaseholders outlined in the

          report and the intention to engage with leaseholders further regarding the

          development of proposals.

8)            Cabinet agrees to a Housing Revenue Account capital budget of £3.013m to cover initial development work, resident support, and a rehousing programme in line with the anticipated ‘tenant offer’. 

Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge

9)           Cabinet agrees that in principle the preferred option for addressing the structural and strengthening issues identified in respect of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge is their demolition and replacement with new homes in keeping with the housing needs of the city, and regeneration of the site.

10)        Cabinet agrees for officers to progress with the delivery of the design and feasibility work for the development of the site of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge, inclusive of demolition, planning, through appointment of a multi-disciplinary team. 

11)        Cabinet agrees for officers to explore delivery options for the site, including through a 3^rd party partner. 

12)        Cabinet agrees to proceed to a consultation in respect of the preferred option with leaseholders, tenants, and other relevant stakeholders.

13)        Cabinet notes that, subject to the approval of recommendation in paragraph 2.9, then, following consultation with the Homemove Manager, may exercise their discretion under the Allocations Policy to agree to allocate Priority Band B to secure tenants of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge seeking transfers to alternative council owned homes.

14)        Cabinet agrees for officers to develop and consult upon a Rehousing Policy and Local Lettings Plan which  would apply to the temporary and/or permanent rehousing of all Council tenants who are accommodated by the Council under a statutory duty and who are affected by the regeneration schemes of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge and which incorporates the proposed tenant offer described in the report, including in relation to the priority of existing Council tenants of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge for allocation to the new housing on the site, in keeping with the intention to offer right to return.  

15)        Cabinet notes the support and offer to leaseholders outlined in the report and the intention to engage with leaseholders further regarding the development of proposals.

16)        Cabinet agrees to a Housing Revenue Account capital budget of £2.488m to cover initial development work, resident support, tenant offer and future rehousing programme. 

Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court, and Swallow Court (“North Whitehawk”)

17)        Cabinet agrees in principle that the preferred option for addressing the structural and strengthening issues identified in respect of Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court, and Swallow Court is their demolition and replacement with new homes in keeping with the housing needs of the city, and regeneration of the site.

18)        Cabinet agrees to initiate a masterplanning and stakeholder visioning exercise for the wider Whitehawk area. 

19)        Cabinet agrees to proceed to a consultation in respect of the preferred option with leaseholders, tenants, and other relevant stakeholders.

20)        Cabinet agrees to a Housing Revenue Account capital budget of £1.988m to appoint a multi-disciplinary project team for the masterplan work, for the feasibility and design of North Whitehawk (phase 1), and to fund additional resident support and future rehousing programme. 

21)        Cabinet notes that, subject to approval of recommendation in paragraph 2.17, then, following consultation with the Homemove Manager, may exercise their discretion under the Allocations Policy to agree to allocate Priority Band B to secure tenants of Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court, seeking transfers to alternative council owned homes.   

22)        Cabinet agrees for officers to develop and consult on a Rehousing Policy and Local Lettings Plan which would apply to the temporary and/or permanent rehousing of all Council tenants who are accommodated by the Council under a statutory duty who are affected by the regeneration schemes for Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court, and which incorporates the proposed tenant offer described in the report, including in relation to the priority of existing Council tenants for allocation to the new housing on the site, in keeping with the intention to offer right to return.    

This report seeks approval to commence a public consultation on the city's Library Sustainability Plan

That Cabinet:

1)           Notes the sustainability plan for Libraries as set out in this report

2)           Agrees to commence a public consultation on the proposals, specifically covering the following suggestions:

3)           Consult on the proposed closure of Hollingbury Library

4)           Consult on the proposed closure of Rottingdean Library

5)           Consult on the proposed closure of Westdene Library

6)           Consult on the proposed changes in opening hours at Hove Library

7)           Consult on the proposed changes in opening hours at Jubilee Library

1)            Cabinet notes the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a potential forecast overspend risk of £15.486m.

2)            Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the separate Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an overspend of £0.450m.

3)            Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an overspend of £4.437m.

4)            Cabinet notes the forecast position on the Capital Programme which is an underspend variance of £0.417m.

5)            Cabinet approves the capital budget variations and re-profiling requests set out in Appendix 5.

6)            Cabinet approves the new capital schemes requested in Appendix 6.

This report seeks approval to progress the project to the next stage, subject to planning consent, of procuring a main contractor to commence work on site to deliver the new facility. 

That Cabinet:

1)           Agrees to the current designs shown in Appendix A being progressed to a submission of a full planning application.

2)           Approves a total project budget of £6.880m to deliver this new facility (inclusive of the previously approved £0.451m for Design Stages 2-4 to date) to be funded from a combination of s106 and capital borrowing.

3)           Delegates authority to the Corporate Director City Operations, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member, to take all steps necessary to award and enter into a suitable contract with a main construction contractor, together will all associated contractual warranties and documents.

4)           Delegates authority to the Corporate Director City Operations, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member to take all steps necessary to enter into an ongoing professional services contract with the preferred bidder, together will all associated contractual warranties and documents.

1)            Cabinet agrees to establish a Seafront Development Board and the Terms of Reference in Appendix 1.

2)            Cabinet agrees to the appointment of Rt Hon Lord Bassam as Chair and to the appointment of the Cabinet Member for Finance & City Regeneration as Vice Chair of the Board.

3)            Cabinet note progress with the recruitment process for Board members and delegates authority to the Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Finance & City Regeneration and Chair of the Board, to finalise membership and operational arrangements.

Resolved to:

This Council Notes:

1)     Brighton & Hove is home to nationally significant heritage, from Saxon churches to the Royal Pavilion;

2)     18 at risk sites are listed by Historic England, others, are less well-known

3)     Patcham, is home to Brighton’s oldest church, a 16^th century dovecote; a 1930s clocktower; Patcham Place sports pavilion, included in the list of planned pavilion upgrades in Administration’s’s Playing Pitch Strategy; and Patcham Peace Gardens which the U3A maintain;

4)     Tourists and residents note the poor state of the city’s heritage caused by fourteen years of austerity under the previous national government and the subsequent lack of funding for the maintenance of the country’s heritage assets, recognising that the total national budget for Historic England was only £117m in 2023/24

5)     The reputational damage and concern expressed by residents and visitors has led to this administration’s determination to begin the restoration programme for Madeira Terraces and the seafront heritage lanterns, whose restoration begins autumn 2025.

6)     That officers have recommended a review be completed of all council-owned heritage assets to establish the full extent of the problem.

Therefore, resolves to:

1)     Request that the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee consider undertaking a cross-party Task & Finish Group review of all council-controlled heritage assets, addressing potential timelines and funding for restoration and maintenance;

2)     Note the ongoing consultation with residents and community groups to guide future investment in the city’s heritage, recognising the social, educational and public value of cultural regeneration.

3)     Request the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers as part of any review how the Council can strengthen partnerships with local arts organisations, schools, colleges, universities, and heritage groups to promote cultural education and inclusive access to our heritage.

Resolved to:

This Council Notes:

1) Brighton & Hove is home to nationally significant heritage, from Saxon churches to the Royal Pavilion;

2) 18 at risk sites are listed by Historic England, others, are less well-known

3) Patcham, is home to Brighton’s oldest church, a 16th century dovecote; a 1930s clocktower; Patcham Place sports pavilion, included in the list of planned pavilion upgrades in Administration’s’s Playing Pitch Strategy; and Patcham Peace Gardens which the U3A maintain;

4) Tourists and residents note the poor state of the city’s heritage caused by fourteen years of austerity under the previous national government and the subsequent lack of funding for the maintenance of the country’s heritage assets, recognising that the total national budget for Historic England was only £117m in 2023/24

5) The reputational damage and concern expressed by residents and visitors has led to this administration’s determination to begin the restoration programme for Madeira Terraces and the seafront heritage lanterns, whose restoration begins autumn 2025.

6) That officers have recommended a review be completed of all council-owned heritage assets to establish the full extent of the problem.

Therefore, resolves to:

1) Request that the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee consider undertaking a cross-party Task & Finish Group review of all council-controlled heritage assets, addressing potential timelines and funding for restoration and maintenance;

2) Note the ongoing consultation with residents and community groups to guide future investment in the city’s heritage, recognising the social, educational and public value of cultural regeneration.

3) Request the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee considers as part of any review how the Council can strengthen partnerships with local arts organisations, schools, colleges, universities, and heritage groups to promote cultural education and inclusive access to our heritage.

Resolved to:

This council notes:

1) That Woodingdean Primary School is undergoing a consultation on proposals to join the Eko Trust.

2) There is significant concern about the principle of academisation from staff, parents, carers and the community.

3) Woodingdean has two ‘good’ Ofsted rated maintained schools which deliver excellent educational outcomes for children.

4) The Eko Trust is in the process of a merger with another Multi Academy Trust – feeding uncertainty into the process and future implications for the school.

5) School governors are a vital asset to our family of schools and help deliver excellent educational opportunities for the children of our city – hence we do not want to see them undermined as is often the case in a Multi Academy Trust.

This council resolves to:

1) Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Co-Chair of governors at Woodingdean Primary to seek to extend the consultation period to the autumn, supporting parent’s wishes.

2) Request officers to consider how best to ensure that Woodingdean school governors are fully aware and briefed on the school improvement work undertaken in recent years, and the totality of the LEA offer to schools prior to the next Full Governing Board meeting where feedback from the consultation is to be discussed.

3) Request officers and Cabinet members to listen and respond to feedback from the school and to consider whether bespoke packages of support are available and committing to always innovate and evolve the LEA offer.

4) Request officers to consider how they can seek out schools considering academisation, and to present a robust case to them for remaining with the LEA.

5) Note the Administration’s position to explicitly oppose new academisation proposals on principle.

1)     That the Council approved the revised Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 2;

2)     That the Council noted that once formally approved, the policy will be applied to the council’s draft Statement of Accounts for 2024/25.

1)     That the Council approved the Policy attached as Appendix 1 with immediate effect.

3.1      RE: Licensing Act 2003 – Licensing Panel Hearing Notification of the Determination of Panel.

3.2      Licensing panel hearing held virtually via Teams on Wednesday 25^th June 2025 in respect of the application for a new premises licence in respect of premises known as Cookes News, 1 Montefiore Road, Hove, BN3 1RD.

3.3      The panel has read the report including the relevant representations and has had regard to the Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP) and the statutory guidance and has listened carefully to all the submissions made today. 

3.4      This is an application for a new premises licence from a newsagent and convenience store for off sales of alcohol, Monday to Thursday: 08:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday: 08:00 to 00:00, Sunday: 09:00 to 22:30. The applicant has agreed to a set of conditions with Sussex Police, and these are in the papers. The premises are not within the cumulative impact zone or special stress area. At the start of the hearing the applicant amended their hours to 23:00 hours Friday to Saturday. 

3.5      21 representations and 1 supporting representation were received. They were received from local residents, local Councillors and the Licensing Authority. The representations had concerns relating to the prevention of public nuisance, cumulative impact, prevention of crime and disorder, and protection of children from harm.

3.6      During the hearing the ward Councillor and local residents highlighted the following concerns:

·       Cumulative Impact: Already two off-licenses nearby; a third is excessive and will increase footfall

·       The notes to the Matrix at 7 and 8 referred to cumulative impact and residential areas.

·       Noise & antisocial behaviour, disturbances, litter, and late-night noise would increase.

·       Proximity to sensitive sites: Opposite a private hospital and near St Anne’s Wells Gardens.

·       Change of community character: Fear of area becoming dominated by alcohol and vape shops.

3.7      The applicant’s representative addressed the panel and made the following points:

·       The shop has operated for 40 years as a convenience store.

·       Alcohol sales are now essential for viability due to changing consumer habits.

·       Applicant has 16 years of experience at a neighbouring premises with no breaches of licensing conditions.

·       Need is not a relevant licensing consideration as per the S182 Guidance.

·       Measures proposed: CCTV (31-day retention), Challenge 25 policy, staff training and refusal logs, no high-strength alcohol (>6%), no single cans, no alcohol deliveries, no advertising of alcohol to be seen from outside, no A-board alcohol advertising, posters to reduce noise.

·       They would be willing to reduce hours to 10 PM.

3.8      The panel has considered this application on its merits. The panel appreciates the strength of feeling from those making representations against the application and it has been a difficult decision. The panel takes the concerns raised very seriously. However, the panel must only apply relevant licensing considerations and consider whether granting this application is likely to undermine the licensing objectives and add to issues in the area. The application has been amended from that originally submitted and is now subject to a robust set of conditions agreed with the police who have not made a representation. The licensing authority representation has also been effectively withdrawn due to the amended hours. The applicant has shown a willingness to compromise and is willing to further reduce the hours to 22:00 every day. This is earlier than the other 2 premises in the immediate vicinity and will reduce the potential for any noise or disturbance associated with later opening. On balance the panel do not consider that granting this amended application is likely to attract more people into the area. The applicant has agreed not to do any alcohol deliveries which was a cause for concern. The applicant clearly has relevant local experience and a good track record. Ultimately, the panel considers that granting this amended application is not likely to undermine the licensing objectives or add to issues in the area. The conditions agreed and reduced hours will promote the licensing objectives. The panel therefore grants this application for the sale of alcohol off the premises from 08:00 hours to 22:00 hours, Monday to Saturday, and 09:00 to 22:00 on Sunday. The police conditions and those relevant from the operating schedule will attach to the licence. 

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Transport & City Infrastructure.

DECISION:

The Cabinet Member for Transport & City Infrastructure:

1)             Agrees that the two Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO-5-2025 and TRO-5b-2025) be sealed, and that the project proceeds to the construction phase under delegated authority.

2)             Agrees and delegates authority to the Interim Corporate Director – City Operations to oversee the sealing of the TROs and progression to construction.