Seafront champions have been disappointed to learn that they were not successful in securing places on a proposed new board.
Next week, Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve the setting up of a Seafront Development Board to advise on the commercial future regeneration and sustainable management of the seafront.
The cabinet is also being asked to approve the appointment of former Labour council leader Steve Bassam, now Lord Bassam of Brighton, as the chair, with the current deputy leader of the council, Jacob Taylor, as the vice-chair.
A report to the cabinet said that there were 91 applicants, described as coming from a wide range of backgrounds and having a wide range of experience.
A shortlist was drawn up before a further review to ensure that the board would include people with a broad range of skills and would reflect the wider community.
No more than six people will be selected to join the board, meaning disappointment for a number of leading seafront champions.
Save Madeira Terrace campaign founder Jax Atkins was stunned to receive a standard letter rejecting her application to join the board, having raising thousands of pounds to restore the grade II* listed structure.
She said: “I find it amazing that myself and three others I know, who were also rejected, actually were.
“All of us are extremely qualified to be a part of this panel. And to add insult to injury, we were all sent the same refusal letter. You couldn’t make it up!”
As well as championing the Madeira Terraces, Mrs Atkins manages the Brighton People Facebook group with more than 100,000 members.
She added: “I suspect that two of us have been dismissed because we are quite vocal and very ready to voice our opinions. The council seems to only like ‘yes’ people.”
Save Madeira Terrace co-founder Derek Wright was also rejected. Mr Wright also manages several Facebook groups covering the Kemp Town area and central Brighton.
Mr Wright had previously raised concerns that the recruitment process seemed to exclude ordinary people.
He said: “The reason I wanted to be on the Seafront Development Board was because after inquiring about a development/planning brief for Black Rock in 2023, I was told that it was being worked on and was due to be presented in the summer of 2023.
“That was delayed to the autumn. That was delayed until the summer of 2024. That was cancelled and the task was given to the yet to be formed Seafront Development Board.
“Six months later from the announcement in January 2025 of asking for interested parties to get in touch, it is announced in July that myself and other notable residents have not been accepted.
“So yes I’m disappointed – not so much for myself but for the future of Black Rock. Any decision-making on the future development of that site has been kicked down the road and will not include any input from residents or businesses.”
Liberal Democrat activist Robert Brown was also rejected despite being an active member of the Kemp Town community.
Mr Brown said: “I am dismayed yet not shocked that I was not chosen to be on the new Seafront Development Board and am curious as to who is on the board and how they will stand up and speak out for residents and businesses in Kemptown ward.
“I am aware of some of individuals who were ‘proactively approached’, mainly businesses along the seafront, which does seem a bit unfair to all those who have contributed to the development of the Madeira Terraces, for example, in the past and have not been chosen now.”
He hoped for a Liberal Democract voice on the board, not least now that the party has five MPs in the 19 Sussex constituencies.
The proposed board’s remit includes developing a long-term vision for the seafront, improving infrastructure and encouraging private initiatives.
The report said: “The board will not have decision-making powers in relation to council functions and responsibilities but will advise the council, through reporting to cabinet, on the matters within its terms of reference.
“The board will work closely with the council, key stakeholders, residents and local businesses. The board will be supported by a range of council officers and teams, taking a ‘one council’ approach to its work.”
The cabinet is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm on Thursday 17 July. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
Some decent people listed here. I’d be curious to see who does become the six people chosen.
Another pretend consultation from the council. People who have actually done work are rejected because they will probably look a little too closely and actually have an opinion.
Because it sounds like a list of Labour yes people has been selected from the sounds of it. Legitimate community representation is not at the top of their list or of any interest!
No one’s been chosen yet, Bill. I hope not. The ability to say no and articulate a grounded argument without going into rant and conspiracy territory is an important aspect to have on your board. Personally, I love well-crafted criticism.
Going on evidence and form since 2023- not hearsay and speculation like you suggest. For example – the reduced scrutiny via the Cabinet system (both residents’ questions and opposition councillors’ time allowed for this reduced) giving residents less say in local decisions and fewer opportunities to challenge decision-makers. The Cabinet scrapping political assistants for opposition parties while at the same time increasing their pay and creating new roles for staff to support them. The lack on any real community say on whether residents support the Bella’s determination to pursue devolution, no consultation on the the Withdean tennis court, Labour councillors refusing public questions from community groups at the recent special meeting to discuss the impact of welfare cuts to disabled residents.
There’s a growing list of evidence pointing to the current council administration trying to silence opposition voices so they can push through plans without challenge. My comment was based on that. Like you I’m curious to know who they will select, but I struggle to believe there would not be room to have had some of the passionate campaigners involved too – think it’s legitimate to question the rationale of why they are doing this. Let’s hope it’s not because Bassam and co are concerned that proper campaigners might question whether the ‘board’ is just another Labour gimmick and a tick box exercise to make it look like they are doing something… There have been so many broken promises in the past for action.
Absolutely. Time and time again this council show us they are gaslighting and lying. We can expect more and more of this.
…and that is why I appreciate a well-grounded and evidence-based response. You make excellent points and observations; Lev’s is fundamentally pointless noise and a textbook example of performative contrarianism.
Can’t argue with the cabinet structure having a streamlined process over a committee system; that’s the nature of it, although I suggest we consider the effectiveness of previous hung councils in comparison. I agree that there is a need to reform how residents are given a voice in the city, for me, that looks like a Citizens’ Assembly.
Devolution is going to happen regardless of whether the council supported or opposed it, such is the national will. Going with the tide should give us the ability to structure what it looks like, ideally to the city’s greatest benefit. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sussex-and-brighton-devolution/sussex-and-brighton-devolution-consultation did exist, but further discussion once details are ironed out about what it looks like will be important. I don’t see how they would consult well at the moment, with those details not being available yet.
My understanding is that extra meetings don’t permit public questions, only petitions related to the motion. Labour councillors adhered to that rule. They said concerns could still be raised at ordinary council meetings later, which I believe was yesterday! Also, I wonder how much impact Ward Councillors actually have on national legislative change, really. When the Winter Fuel Allowance was cut, BHCC created the Household Support Fund that functionally did the same thing. I find that pretty revealing.
I share your hope. I agree with you that tick-box exercises and ineffectual groups for the sake of having them does not help anyone.
Is this a real shock? This is the Labour party that has stamped out any kind of accountability of scrutiny on the council!
I mean…6 out of 91 people in an area that has some historically loud voices. You would be silly not to expect some grumbling. I’m reserving judgment until I see who has been chosen. Like I said earlier, we’ve got some decent voices who didn’t make the shortlist.
That’s democracy!….. BHCC style
Just like everything else the council sets up, it’s underhanded to friends and yes nodders
But we don’t know who the six people chosen are yet.
There is a vast difference between constantly posting on Facebook and having the skills and experience to contribute at Board level.
Derek Wright is very good at representing the views of Derek Wright. The rest of the city, less so.
Exactly!
And whilst advocating for the arches and/ or Kemptown is important they only form a small part of the entire B&H sea front.
and on here
Totally missing the point that PalmeiraSeagul was making there Derek!
You make a very good point, Seagull. In my view, this is the key difference between a Disruptor and a Builder.
Disruptors are effective when something needs to be broken down. Their loud voices and ability to rally others can shine a light on poor practice and demand accountability. However, I wouldn’t want one on a board because it’s a poor fit for their skills.
Builders, on the other hand, focus on creating good practice and systems of accountability from within, often without seeking the limelight, but may not have the same level of gravitas as a Disruptor.
Be interesting who the council chooses. If they are all Labour “yes” people there is the opportunity for something else. This group is being set up to advise the council about the seafront. There’s nothing stopping another group setting up and, especially if well supported, the council would be obliged to listen. With the PR skills of some of those rejected, likely to have more impact than the council or any of their groups could have
So how about the Citizen Seafront Development Group?
It was suggested that I should apply – not least because I’ve worked and lived on the Brighton and Hove seafront all my life – but I’m also too busy at the moment.
If 90 people did apply then I’m glad I didn’t, because of course you’d be disappointed if you put yourself forward but then were not chosen
And I’d suggest this is about choosing a working team, more than it’s about egos and personal snubs.
That’s a reasonable viewpoint to me. And, just as I was saying to Elaine, there’s no reason the board can’t still engage with respected voices from outside.
A shocking and sinister board if it is is already excluding genuine seafront champions like Jax Atkins.
Sounds like a Benidorm row of overpriced skyscrapers along the beach are more the objective if they are not interested in engaging with genuine champions of the existing seafront.
I don’t see the logic in calling it “a shocking and sinister board” when the board hasn’t even been selected yet. Even if certain individuals aren’t appointed, there’s no reason the board can’t still engage with respected voices from outside. In fact, it would be in their best interest to do so.
“Engaging with respected voices” is one thing. Excluding “respected voices” from the opportunity of being on the board and being active decision makers is quite another.
So who in their right mind excludes “respected voices” if that is what they are?
Surely the whole board should be comprised of “respected voices”?
Steve Bassam has nothing to do with the seafront and doesn’t even live in Brighton. Yet seemingly he gets given the chairmanship of this board without even having to apply.
While he may have been a successful political climber, not everyone counts him as a “respected voice” or someone who’s done Brighton and Hove any favours to date.
In answer to your question, being a respected voice doesn’t automatically equate to having the commercial, governance, or regeneration expertise needed for effective decision-making. A well-functioning board needs a blend of credibility, lived experience, and technical skills, especially when tasked with long-term seafront redevelopment and public accountability, would be my gentle counterpoint.
Being a “respected voice” isn’t the same as running a few Facebook pages and getting your name in the paper.
And the skills required for this board are a lot more than that.
If you’re a supposed seafront champion then why haven’t any of the three commented on the £21m for the King’s Road scheme? Or Hove sea front park? Or the temporary closure of one of the sets of steps to allow construction work on the terraces. If they have then I apologise but a check just now shows nothing.
They aren’t obligated of course but the council needs people who will advocate for the ENTIRE seafront not just parts of it.
And the entire sea front runs from Portslade to Saltdean and 9 council wards cover it. That doesn’t mean everywhere will gets projects or is suited to development but board members will need to balance all the competing demands.
It’s perhaps worth remembering that the last time there was serious development for the central Brighton seafront was back in the 1980s, when the whole of the section between the piers was remodelled. At that time there were several derelict arches and the lower prom was a bit of a no go area after dark. The work then took place into the 1990s.
The council was then led by Steve Bassam and some serious work was put in by several key councillors to allow existing needs to be recognised while allowing the arches to find new uses. The funding for refurbishing the promenade actually came from the EU, because Brighton as a seaside town was seen as run down. Obviously this was before we became a city.
So we ended up with the new seafront bars and restaurants, plus some nightclubs to add to the Zap Club. Under Andy Durr, the fishing quarter was established around a workshop and museum, and the then aim was to preserve all the old wooden fishing boats that had fallen into disrepair.
There was also a gym and other public sports facilities, plus the artist quarter shops took over some of the smaller arches (where I had my own studio and shop), plus we set up the seafront traders association.
Overall, this redevelopment has worked well in the decades since – although we lost the West Pier, and some would argue that Covid rules led the bars to spreading too much onto the beach. We might also argue that that section of the seafront is now so busy that it’s a victim of its own success.
I’m thinking that the purpose of this new seafront development board is to come up with a new vision for the whole of the seafront, that gives us a further plan for the next few decades. And for sure, this will be about hanging onto our precious heritage as much as it will be about reworking underused or run down areas for commercial interest.
Once a new plan is drawn up, the council will still have to come up with new ways of funding any changes.
My point here is that this is the reasoning for setting up a new board under Steve (now Lord) Bassam. It will be interesting to see who they do choose to take part.
I imagine the 6 chosen out of the 90 have a lot of business experience. There is a difference between being a community campaigner and being a person with a lot of business experience. The seafront needs a lot of money invested in it and so it makes sense that it’s people with a lot of business experience who will be selected for the board. The person who runs the Brighton People Facebook group has a habit of banning people from the group who hold a different opinion to her. Let’s wait and see who the new board members are . Hopefully it will be people with a lot of business experience.
Ah, yes, she banned me once for saying a bar on a graph was bigger than another.
I’m banned !
You are? But you’re so non-threatening with the way you just say it, how it is! That’s hilarious!