Brighton and Hove City Council is expected to put up council tax by 4.99 per cent next week when the budget is up for debate.
The Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey said that the proposed increase was necessary to put the council on a sustainable financial footing.
The decision is due to be made at a meeting of the full council, known as the annual budget council, at a meeting at Hove Town Hall on Thursday 26 February.
An increase of 2 per cent will be earmarked to go towards the burgeoning cost of providing adult social care while a rise of 2.99 per cent will support other services.
Together, the two parts of the increase amount to 4.99 per cent or just shy of £2 a week for a typical band D property.
More than 96,000 properties are expected to pay council tax next year, generating about £210 million towards the council’s £1 billion budget.
Councillor Sankey told cabinet colleagues last week said that the council was “determined to remain sustainable” but faced the same pressures as other councils across the country.
She said: “This is our council plan in financial form, targeting investment where it matters most, tackling homelessness and inequality, driving climate action and improving neighbourhood services.
“The challenge is real. We began this process with a £25 million (budget) gap next year and over £80 million across the medium term (the next three years).
“Our reserves remain among the lowest of any unitary authority so returning to financial sustainability is our number one priority.
“We’re delivering £12.4 million in savings and launching a transformation programme to close the medium-term gap through reducing temporary accommodation costs, managing social care demand, increasing our income as a council and investing in digital and service redesign.”
Councillor Sankey defended the request to the government for £15 million in “exceptional financial support” – or an “emergency bailout”, according to the Local Government Association.
She said that it was not extra funding but would give the council the flexibility to protect services and build reserves.
Green councillor Sue Shanks said that it is a “sad time for local government” as she recalled happier times when she worked in the sector in the 1980s and 90s, a time of youth clubs and open libraries.
Councillor Shanks said: “Things have been dire obviously since the austerity of 2010 but we all thought that Labour would bring a change. It’s what they stood for – change.
“However, now Brighton and Hove plans to borrow £15 million – and a record number of councils do the same.
“The council is paying an average of £1 in every £5 of serviced debt to the Public Works Loan Board which is actually the Treasury.
“It’s a ridiculous system. The government makes money out of lending money to local government to fund public services.”
The annual budget council meeting is due to take place at Hove Town Hall at 4.30pm on Thursday 26 February. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
Now there’s a surprise, every year it’s the same old thing! Where do these people think that we keep get the money from?, the council must see us as some kind of cash cow! Mine is already £3,000 a year and has been going up almost 5% every year! I wouldn’t mind but the council is run by a bunch of muppets and I feel their vision for the city is totally different one to mine, they are slowly but surely running it into the ground and turning the city into a dump, there’s no pride left living in this city anymore!
You can always stand for election and make a contribution.
A useful template copied from a local whatsapp group
Subject Conditional Acceptance of Proposed 4.99% Council Tax Increase Conditional Acceptance of Proposed 4.99% Council Tax Increase
Dear Councillors
i write regarding the proposed 4.99% increase in Council Tax.
As a resident and taxpayer, I am prepared to accept and pay this increase on the strict understanding that the Council operates in full compliance with its statutory and fiduciary duties.
My acceptance is therefore conditional upon the Council’s demonstrable adherence to the following legal and governance principles:Full Compliance with All Relevant Local Government Legislation Including, but not limited to, the Local Government Acts and all associated statutory instruments governing financial management, consultation, accountability, and decision-making.Adherence to the Nolan Principles of Public Life Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership must be actively demonstrated in all Council functions and decision-making processes.Compliance with the Gunning Principles (Fair Consultation Standards) Any consultation must :Occur at a formative stage,Provide sufficient information for intelligent consideration,Allow adequate time for response, andDemonstrate conscientious consideration of responses received.Observance of the Best Value DutyAs required under Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999, the Council must secure continuous improvement in the way its functions are exercised, having regard to economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.Fair Parking Policies and Charging StructuresParking enforcement and charging regimes must be proportionate, transparent, revenue-neutral in purpose, and demonstrably fair. Charges should not operate as disguised taxation nor disproportionately burden residents and local businesses.Cessation of Non-Essential or “Vanity” ProjectsAll expenditure should be clearly justified against essential service provision. Discretionary projects lacking demonstrable community mandate or cost-benefit justification should be suspended.Full Financial TransparencyClear, accessible publication of:Detailed budgets and spending breakdowns,Senior officer remuneration and expenses,Contracts and procurement decisions, Borrowing levels and long-term liabilities.Democratic Legitimacy for Controversial Projects and Governance Changes.
Any major capital project, regeneration scheme, or alteration to leadership or governance structures should be subject to a binding resident referendum where material public concern exists.
Compliance with the Companies Act 2006 (Where Applicable) In respect of any incorporated entities, arms-length bodies, or trading companies controlled by the Council, directors must comply fully with their statutory duties, including the duty to promote the success of the company and exercise independent judgment.Compliance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 in Service Delivery ContextsWhere the Council provides chargeable services and operates in a commercial capacity, it must ensure services are delivered with reasonable care and skill, transparency, and fairness consistent with consumer protection standards.I respectfully request written confirmation that the Council acknowledges these governance and legal obligations and will continue to operate in accordance with them.Residents are not merely revenue sources; we are stakeholders whose trust depends upon lawful governance, transparency, and demonstrable value for money.
I look forward to your considered response within 28 days.
Yours faithfully,
Your Full Name, address ect
Interesting JamesK – do you think that they do not comply and if so which ones ?
It’s an interesting concept, but it is a nonsense letter, legally. Very Sovereign Citizen.
Shanks is being disingenuous again, unfortunately further demonstrating the local Green Party’s financial incompetence.
The £51m owed to the PWB in bad debt lands squarely at the feet of the Greens, accepting a bad deal imo the i360. She also misunderstands that the money from the PWB is, itself, borrowed money from gilts, so of course it attracts interest.
Nobody is going to get a reply to that twaddle
Nonsense. It’s a tax. You pay it. Don’t like it? Elect a politician that will change it.
Quelle surprise! What enhanced goods and services can we expect for a 4.99% rise in council tax?
If the answer is none, I wish to cancel my free 2-year trial of Bella Sankey’s cabinet council now thanks.
It’s just not delivering and I never voted for it.
If Labour were quite happy to postpone local elections, we shouldn’t need to wait for an election to see the back of the local Labour administration.
To rein you back a bit, Tracy, Brighton has never been part of the proposed postponed elections. This Cabinet has delivered quite a lot, factually, despite being financially constrained more than any other previous council.
Not true. Even Labour Councillors have had enough. 10 resignations since elected in 2023. 9 of which – Labour
Considering you’ve had this question answered to you directly in the council chamber in a recorded session, Councillor, could you explain why you are evidently lying to members of the public, please?
You ok Benji?
Just rechecked & yup 10 councillors have left since elected in 2023 of which 9 Labour. Hard for you to face the truth – given Labour are imploding but you can’t shy away from the truth
Since 2023, six councillors have resigned their seats and triggered by-elections. Clearly, you’re trying to be intellectually dishonest by claiming that councillors who decide to go independent is a resignation. So I ask the question for a third time: Why are you lying to members of the public?
And once again, let’s recap those the reasons for the actual resignations, because I assert again, your framing is disingenuous at the best of times, Councillor.
Cllr Les Hamilton, retired after 52 years of continuous service.
Cllr Tristram Burden, resigned to ensure integrity with his new role with the CQC.
Cllr Leslie Pumm, resigned due to ill health.
Cllr Jilly Stevens, resigned due to ill health, timed to align with elections.
And of course, the two con-artist family, Mistry and Gajjar, who were photographed taking photos with Robert Jenrick, one of the Conservatives who defected to Reform, and I’m still convinced that level of absentism was manufactured. https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/10/25/ex-labour-councillor-now-conservative-member/
And on your councillor claim, I’ve just recently corrected your mistake on this. Can you comment on why you are lying to members of the public about this?
A shame that the Councillors who left their parties & went Independent didn’t trigger elections – but that’s up to them. Still left & I am factually correct.
We’d be having by-elections up and down the country from the sheer number of defections from Conservative to Reform, wouldn’t we?
And I still wouldn’t call them resigned, because it would be dishonest to paint it that way, so for the fourth time, why are you lying to the public, Councillor Lyons?
“To rein you back a bit”? Who on earth do you think you are, lol?
Someone that finds themselves having to rein your comments back a bit often with context, Tracy, lol.
Brightons elections were always due in May 2027.
Labour have been a disaster for our City & I fully expect their majority to be wiped out come next May. Most likely No Overall Control.
There should be 5 extra councillors now that the Administration are grabbing Saltdean & Telscombe. I doubt the east will vote red.
Referendum. That’s the best idea you’ve come up with so far Benjamin. I’m in. A great round up of major council failings R.
Dear Benjamin. Your comments are usually more measured. It’s both unkind and unfair to accuse Cllr Ivan Lyons of lying about this and untrue.
Since the local elections in May 2023, nine Labour councillors have resigned from the party or the council or both. One Conservative has resigned from his party and now sits an Independent.
Six of the Labour resignations from the council resulted in by-elections. The Greens have won two of these.
The three Labour councillors who resigned from their party and remained on the council became Independents. One has since joined the Greens.
It is unusual for such a high proportion of councillors to quit in such a short space of time and begs a number of questions which can’t easily be answered here. The switch to a cabinet system has caused some consternation although others may well prefer it. Welfare policy has not won universal support.
While one former councillor has undoubtedly had cause to put personal health before politics and public service, we can only hope those in leadership roles, locally and nationally, have a better idea of what really lies behind the other departures. Let’s hope, too, they reflect on the lessons.
The only Councillors who prefer the Cabinet system are likely to be Council Leader Sankey – who imposed it – and the favoured 13 or so inner sanctum Councillors it benefits. For the rest it is akin to a ‘club’ which they are not a member of, except for the odd Full Council meeting, preventing the 40 or so remaining Councillors from having full access to information and influence that the ‘club’ have and representing their Wards properly. It therefore operates without public or full Councillor consent.
Spot on. I trust that Benjamin reads, digests & acknowledges the facts as well as to make an apology.
I make no apology for calling out a Ward Councillor who chronically persists in dishonesty in various forms.
If you don’t like it, may I recommend making better arguments that don’t rely on terminological inexactitudes, disingenuous representations, and intellectual dishonesty.
Then perhaps we can have a proper discussion. Monty demonstrates it is possible. What’s your excuse?
Because I’ve witnessed multiple occasions of the Councillor being intellectually dishonest with people purely to cause discord.
In this case, he is conflating individuals resigning from Ward Councillor position, to standing as independents. Furthermore, he knows that most of the resignations from post were perfectly reasonable, such as the four on health grounds, that he would have been very aware of working with them on a regular basis. It speaks very poorly to his character, professionalism, and his party, by lying about this through disingenuous misrepresentation. Cllr Lyons knows better, which is why I ask why he is lying?
Lyons is entitled to his opinion on the matter, of course, why some have changed parties or gone independent, but the expectation as a Ward Councillor, he can do that without bending the truth.
In the words of Cilla Black “surprise, surprise!”
Last year they raised council tax to a similar percentage. Yet the council still are in debt and want to recoup it any way they can including council tax.
Let’s just outline a few things that the council have reduced or cut in the last year, money they could have made back but didn’t, as well as the services they have or expect to cut further too:
– Community youth & mental health services. (Including funding for the non- for profit or charity sector that provide a lot of these to the city)
– Library’s and council owned buildings providing services, being closed.
– Bin collection and disposal going from at least once a week to twice a month.
– Road repairs and maintenance at an all time low. Roads still in poor condition including huge amounts of pot holes and flooding during adverse weather conditions.
– Less police presence on the streets and able to answer emergencies.
– Holding the companies/ previous companies accountable for the debt that they have not repaid like Royal Albion Hotel and i360.
– Street, permit and council run car parking bringing in millions of pounds of profit every year, yet they are set to increase prices of some parking moving forward.
How can the council expect to increase council tax yet again trying to recoup lost money and revenue. Yet just some of the services I listed above have been cut and closed to save money… how can they justify charging people more for less and less. Yet also release information that confirms where they make money and profit.
How about we cut back on some of the deadweight in and running the council on high paid wages and expenses? That may not be needed, paid far too much with lack of action and implementing and that ends up having no impact to the city? Maybe that money could be used for things that are needed and implemented in the city? Or even making those companies that owe the council huge sums of money pay up or face the consequences…
Have they even considered it, thought about any of that, meaning they could recoup and save the council some money to then plug the debt or reinvest it back into the city and services that they are quick to cut?
Just shows how far removed these people are from the reality of this city!
To say I’m shocked or surprised would be a complete lie.
5% would require a referendum. Whilst I take your rhetoric for what it is, the real issue is chronic underfunding from central government, and whilst the LGFS saw some increase, the reality is that demand is outpacing funding, particularly in ASC, TA and education in Brighton.
financial reality facing councils and the need to protect vital public services. Brighton & Hove City Council is clearly operating under intense pressure, with rising demand in adult social care, homelessness support and neighbourhood services, alongside historically low reserves. In that context, a 4.99 per cent council tax increase — roughly £2 a week for a Band D household — is a difficult but defensible step to safeguard essential services.
Earmarking 2 per cent specifically for adult social care reflects demographic realities and the moral duty to support vulnerable residents. At the same time, transparency about a £25 million shortfall and plans to deliver £12.4 million in savings show an attempt at responsible stewardship rather than denial.
However, reliance on borrowing and “exceptional financial support” underlines a deeper systemic problem. Local authorities have faced prolonged funding constraints since austerity, leaving them dependent on mechanisms like the Public Works Loan Board. A liberal solution must pair local efficiency reforms with sustained national investment and fairer funding settlements, so councils can plan long term instead of lurching from gap to gap.
And the details on the reasoning behind the EFS loan were specific in how it will be used to address a deeper systemic problem by reducing reliance on TA and replenishing reserves from one of the lowest in the country, allowing much needed investment. Councillor Sykes, as a member of the Green Party who put the council into that dire financial situation, appeared to struggle with this concept at the scrutiny committee today.
Referendum. That’s the best idea you’ve come up with so far Benjamin. I’m in. A great round up of major council failings R.
“Pay more and keep it quiet so we can waste more and make noise on the BS we waste on” Ahhh councils. If there was a way to choose where my council tax money goes to pay less I would do it. This is not democracy