• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
13 June, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Remember local government as the election approaches

by Frank le Duc
Friday 28 Apr, 2017 at 1:49AM
A A
3
Budget’s £250m cuts to city council’s budget is ‘devolution by stealth’

Councillor Warren Morgan

Councils are on the front line of delivery on social care, housing, the environment, economic growth, community cohesion and doorstep issues that matter most to voters.

What local government does impacts on all of us, every day. Local government should not be forgotten in the coming general election.

We need a fundamental review of how both local government and social care are funded. They are inextricably linked, and far too reliant on outdated property taxes.

The piecemeal reforms of the current government in adding 2 per cent to council tax bills to fund social care, and the full retention of business rates, do not go far enough.

The trend towards councils bidding for ever shrinking pots of money to be spent on projects determined by Whitehall should end.

Councils need the freedoms and flexibilities thus far only offered to directly elected mayors to use levies to tackle pollution, infrastructure issues and housing challenges.

Where responsibilities are given to councils by central government, funding or revenue raising powers should follow.

With these freedoms and flexibilities should come real devolution, true localism with powers passed not just to city and town halls but to neighbourhoods as well.

Communities should have the means to identify and address priority issues they live with daily, in partnership with their council.

Community partnership is one means of moving local government closer to those it serves. The other is digital engagement that makes councils as accessible and responsive as Amazon or Facebook.

Councils must be free to build and buy, whether council housing or joint venture schemes, and the “right to buy” should be rolled back to previous limits.

The ability to manage the levels of buy-to-rent and houses in multiple occupancy ought to be considered.

The power for councils to create, build and run schools to address local need should be restored.

I support a vision of local government that ensures the basics are delivered well, that ensures the vulnerable are well cared for and safeguarded and where local and regional economic growth delivers for the whole community.

In power locally we have risen to the challenges of rising pressures and falling funding with innovation, vision and competence through a knowledge of the communities we serve and the people who live here.

Councillor Warren Morgan is the Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 3

  1. Rolivan says:
    8 years ago

    If you hadn’t gone ahead with Hove Town Hall before selling Kings House you would have £12-£15m or is The Council better off financially than you would have us believe Warren Morgan?

    Reply
  2. Christopher Hawtree says:
    8 years ago

    Trouble is, Labour in three terms of Government did not address “Right to Buy” (absurd phrase) and it laughed at the Jenkins Report into Voting systems. Perhaps cllr Morgan now wishes he had remained in the SDP?

    Reply
  3. Hjarrs says:
    8 years ago

    Labour are too busy fighting amongst themselves than to deliver services for the people of B&H.

    Roll on 2019.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Illegal parking riles residents on Brighton estates

A new start for the end of the pier show

Brighton school goes from special measures to good in three years

Remember local government as the election approaches

Drug dealer jailed after swinging machete at two men in Brighton

Police officer charged with sexual assaulting four women

Advertising screen turned down by planning inspector

Poor outcomes for Brighton’s poorest pupils prompt call for review

Brighton school plans to join academy trust

Police extend bail again for former Hove MP

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
In ‘Paradise’ with Safire in Brighton

In ‘Paradise’ with Safire in Brighton

10 June 2025
Two men held after man falls over railings on to Brighton seafront lower prom

A new start for the end of the pier show

10 June 2025
‘Pozi’tive night out in Brighton

‘Pozi’tive night out in Brighton

9 June 2025
Animal Collective’s Panda Bear – Brighton gig report

Animal Collective’s Panda Bear – Brighton gig report

9 June 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

by Frank le Duc
12 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the signing of 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Greek champions Olympiacos on a five-year...

Brighton and Hove Albion agree £30m deal for 18-year-old Greek forward

Brighton and Hove Albion agree £30m deal for 18-year-old Greek forward

by Frank le Duc
12 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed a £30 million deal to sign 18-year-old Greek forward Charalampos Kostoulas, according to the...

Brighton and Hove Albion defender signs one-year deal

Brighton and Hove Albion defender signs one-year deal

by PA sport staff
9 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey has signed a new one-year contract worth more than £2 million. The deal...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex ease to T20 victory over Glamorgan at Hove

by Paul Weaver - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
8 June 2025
0

Sussex Sharks 195-4 (20 overs) Glamorgan 117 (15.2 overs) Sussex Sharks win by 78 runs Sussex Sharks made it three...

Load More
April 2017
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Mar   May »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Gatwick-bound flight crashes 12 June 2025
  • Shop owners fear for future over plans for Body Shop HQ 11 June 2025
  • Couple jailed for stealing jewellery when viewing homes for sale 10 June 2025
  • Cyclist seriously injured in crash late last night 9 June 2025
  • Driver jailed and given 10-year ban after high-speed chase 9 June 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News