Brighton and Hove City Council

Last updated
Brighton and Hove City Council
Coat of arms of Brighton and Hove City Council.jpg
Coat of arms
Brighton and Hove City Council.svg
Corporate Logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1997
Leadership
Jackie O’Quinn,
Labour
since 25 May 2023 [1]
Bella Sankey,
Labour
since 25 May 2023
Jess Gibbons
since 18 March 2024 [2] [3]
Structure
Seats54 councillors
Political groups
Administration (38)
  Labour (38)
Other parties (16)
  Green (7)
  Conservative (5)
  Brighton and Hove Ind. (2)
  Independent (2)
Joint committees
Greater Brighton City Board
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Plurality block voting
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Hove Town Hall, Norton Road-Tisbury Road-Church Road, Hove (May 2020) (6).JPG
Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
Website
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

Brighton and Hove City Council is the local authority for Brighton and Hove, a local government district with city status in the ceremonial county of East Sussex, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2023. It is based at Hove Town Hall.

Contents

History

The district of Brighton and Hove was created in 1997 as a merger of the former Borough of Brighton and Borough of Hove, both of which had been lower-tier districts with East Sussex County Council providing county-level services prior to 1997. The new district was removed from the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex to also become its own non-metropolitan county, but with no county council; instead the district council performs both district and county functions, making it a unitary authority. [4] For the purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty, Brighton and Hove remains part of the wider ceremonial county of East Sussex. [5]

The new district was awarded borough status from its creation on 1 April 1997, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. [6] The borough was additionally awarded city status on 31 January 2001, since when the council has been called Brighton and Hove City Council. [7]

In December 2023 the council leader declared that the council was facing bankruptcy. [8]

Governance

The council provides both district-level and county-level services. In its capacity as a district council it is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, and it is responsible for town planning, housing, waste collection and environmental health. In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, and is responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. [9] There is one civil parish in the city at Rottingdean which provides an additional tier of local government for that area; the rest of the city is an unparished area. [10]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since the 2023 election. [11]

The first election to the council was held in 1996, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1997. [4] Political control of the council since 1997 has been as follows: [12] [13]

Party in controlYears
Labour 1997–2003
No overall control 2003–2023
Labour 2023–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Brighton and Hove. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The first leader following the merger, Steve Bassam, had been the last leader of the old Brighton Borough Council. In 2011, Bill Randall of the Green Party was appointed leader, being the party's first council leader in the United Kingdom. [14] The leaders since the council's creation in 1997 have been: [15]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Steve Bassam Labour 19971999
Lynette Gwyn-Jones Labour 19992001
Ken Bodfish Labour 20012006
Simon Burgess Labour 20066 May 2007
Brian Oxley Conservative 24 May 200715 May 2008
Mary Mears Conservative 15 May 200819 May 2011
Bill Randall Green 19 May 201117 May 2012
Jason Kitcat Green 17 May 201210 May 2015
Warren Morgan Labour 21 May 201517 May 2018
Daniel Yates Labour 17 May 201822 May 2019
Nancy Platts Labour 22 May 201923 Jul 2020
Phélim Mac Cafferty Green 23 Jul 20207 May 2023
Bella Sankey Labour 25 May 2023

Composition

Following the 2023 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2024, the composition of the council was as follows: [16]

PartyCouncillors
Labour 38
Green 7
Conservative 5
Brighton and Hove Independents2
Independent 2
Total54

The next election is due in 2027.

Premises

Brighton Town Hall: Used (with the adjoining Bartholomew House) for some council functions. Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomews, The Lanes, Brighton (NHLE Code 1379974) (July 2014) (1).jpg
Brighton Town Hall: Used (with the adjoining Bartholomew House) for some council functions.

The council inherited Brighton Town Hall (completed 1832) [17] and the adjoining 1980s Priory House and Bartholomew House from the old Brighton Borough Council, and Hove Town Hall (completed 1974) from the old Hove Borough Council. [18]

Council meetings are generally held at Hove Town Hall, which also houses the council's main offices. [19] Brighton Town Hall and Bartholomew House continue to be used as a register office, customer service centre and additional offices. [20] Priory House was closed as council offices in 2011 and subsequently converted to residential use. [21]

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 23 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [22]

Museums service

The council's museums service takes the name Royal Pavilion & Museums, and operates the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Hove Museum and Art Gallery, the Booth Museum of Natural History and Preston Manor. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton</span> Seaside resort on the south coast of England

Brighton is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the city of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located 47 miles (76 km) south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The ancient settlement of "Brighthelmstone" was documented in the Domesday Book (1086). The town's importance grew in the Middle Ages as the Old Town developed, but it languished in the early modern period, affected by foreign attacks, storms, a suffering economy and a declining population. Brighton began to attract more visitors following improved road transport to London and becoming a boarding point for boats travelling to France. The town also developed in popularity as a health resort for sea bathing as a purported cure for illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton and Hove</span> City and unitary authority in England

Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority with city status in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administered by Brighton and Hove City Council, which is currently under Labour majority control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid Sussex District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Mid Sussex is a local government district in West Sussex, England. The largest town is Haywards Heath, where the council is based. The district also contains the towns of Burgess Hill and East Grinstead plus surrounding rural areas, including many villages. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park and part of the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of High Weald, including sections of Ashdown Forest. The district contains most headwaters of the River Ouse. Its largest body of water is Ardingly reservoir which is used by watersports clubs. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 152,949.

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Adur is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It is named after the River Adur which flows through the area. The council is based in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea, and the district also contains the town of Southwick, the large village of Lancing and a modest rural hinterland inland. The district had a population of 64,626 at the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Lewes is a local government district in East Sussex, England. The district is named after the town of Lewes. The largest town is Seaford. The district also includes the towns of Newhaven, Peacehaven and Telscombe and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The Council is based at Marine Workshops a former industrial building in Newhaven which it shares with East Sussex Colleges Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horsham District</span> Local government district in West Sussex, England

Horsham is a local government district in West Sussex, England. It is named after the town of Horsham, which is its largest settlement and where the council is based. The district also includes the surrounding rural area and contains many villages, the largest of which are Southwater and Billingshurst. The district includes part of the South Downs National Park and part of the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of High Weald. At the 2021 census the district had a population of 147,487.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom

Brighton Pavilion is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Caroline Lucas of the Green Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Kemptown (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency in England since 1950

Brighton Kemptown is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Lloyd Russell-Moyle, a Labour Co-op MP. The seat is often referred to as Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven by local political parties, and will formally adopt that name following the next general election, thanks to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.

Brighton and Hove City Council is a unitary authority in East Sussex, England. It was created as Brighton and Hove Borough Council on 1 April 1997 replacing Brighton and Hove Borough Councils. It was granted city status in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Darlington</span> Unitary authority area in County Durham, England

The Borough of Darlington is a local government district with borough status in County Durham, England. Since 1997 Darlington Borough Council has been a unitary authority, with both district-level and county-level functions; it is independent from Durham County Council. It is named after its largest settlement, the town of Darlington, where the council is based. The borough also includes a rural area surrounding the town which contains several villages. The population of the borough at the 2021 census was 107,800, of which over 86% (93,015) lived in the built-up area of Darlington itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex County Council</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worthing Borough Council</span>

Worthing Borough Council is the local authority for Worthing in West Sussex, England. Worthing is a non-metropolitan district with borough status. It forms the lower tier of local government in Worthing, responsible for local services such as housing, planning, leisure and tourism. The council is currently led by the Labour Party. It is based at Worthing Town Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derby City Council</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crawley Borough Council</span> Local authority for the borough of Crawley in West Sussex, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings Borough Council</span> English non-metropolitan district council in East Sussex, England, UK

Hastings Borough Council is the local authority for Hastings, a non-metropolitan district with borough status in East Sussex, England. The council is based at Muriel Matters House on the seafront.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Town Hall, England</span> Municipal building in Brighton, East Sussex, England

Brighton Town Hall stands on Bartholomew Square in Brighton, East Sussex, England. The town hall contains a number of police cells which were in use until the 1960s, and which now form the Old Police Cells Museum. The town hall is a Grade II listed building. It was formerly the headquarters of Brighton Borough Council and is still used for some meetings of the successor Brighton and Hove City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Tyneside Council</span>

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Hove was a non-metropolitan district in East Sussex, England. It was abolished on 1 April 1997 and replaced by Brighton and Hove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Hove</span> District of East Sussex (1974–1997)

Hove was a non-metropolitan district with borough status of East Sussex, England. The district contained the unparished areas of Hove and Portslade-by-Sea. The population of the borough was recorded as 84,740 in 1981 and 90,400 in 1992. The borough council was based at Hove Town Hall, although part of Portslade Town Hall continued to be used for council purposes as well.

References

  1. ↑ "Council minutes, 25 May 2023" (PDF). Brighton and Hove City Council. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Benn, Dan (2023-12-08). "New Chief Executive appointed to council". Public Sector Executive. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  3. ↑ "New council chief executive joins today". Brighton and Hove City Council. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "The East Sussex (Boroughs of Brighton and Hove) (Structural Change) Order 1995", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1995/1770, retrieved 7 May 2024
  5. ↑ "Lieutenancies Act 1997: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1997 c. 23 (sch.1), retrieved 7 May 2024
  6. ↑ "Understanding borough status; national context" (PDF). West Suffolk Council. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "No. 56109". The London Gazette . 5 February 2001. p. 1431.
  8. ↑ "Brighton & Hove City Council finances perilous, says leader". BBC News. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  9. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70
  10. ↑ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Booker-Lewis, Sarah (30 May 2023). "Brighton and Hove's new leader elected". The Argus. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Brighton & Hove". BBC News Online . Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  13. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Go Green for first Green-led council in UK". www.greenparty.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
  15. ↑ "Council minutes". Brighton and Hove City Council. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Local elections 2023: full council results for England". The Guardian. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  17. ↑ Historic England. "Town Hall and attached railings (Grade II) (1379974)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Hove Town Hall". My Brighton and Hove. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "Calendar". Brighton and Hove City Council. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Visit us in person". Brighton and Hove City Council. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Vowles, Neil (17 February 2014). "Former council office in Bartholomew Square Brighton for sale". The Argus. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "The Brighton and Hove (Electoral Changes) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2023/22, retrieved 7 May 2024
  23. ↑ "Who we are". Royal Pavilion and Museums. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
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