We’re delighted to have won support for our range of proposals to improve the Brighton & Hove City Council budget for the year ahead.

By working constructively and cross-party in the best interests of the city, we were able to win support for measures to address residents’ concerns on issues such as drug dealing, parking charges, beach huts and bus services.

Our budget plans came from listening to our communities, combating the climate crisis and tackling disadvantage.

Labour Councillors secured funding to:

• Freeze parking permit charges for the majority of residents across the city
• Invest in the innovation of community bus services, particularly with a view to improving services in hilly areas of the city
• Set up a city-wide Drug Summit and fund a Community Drug Impact Co-ordinator to address the damage and misery caused by drug dealing on our communities
• Help families get the early support they need in the aftermath of Covid and with the challenge of disadvantage
• Increase funding opportunities for the Community and Voluntary Sector
• Help people on low incomes right across the city by expanding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• Support residents to engage in a zero net carbon future, by focussing on incentives, not sanctions
• Reverse proposed cuts to our Schools Standards service, which would have reduced money available to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children
• Build more beach huts and chalets along the seafront to generate an income stream for the restoration of Madeira Terraces
• Invest in our seafront infrastructure
• And more…!

Labour Councillors improved the budget by working collaboratively and putting politics aside to focus on what matters – delivering for our residents, in the best interests of the city. That is how we will continue to work.