Labour has been accused of scrapping public meetings about events such as Pride with those whose lives are most disrupted but the party said that it was reviewing how to reach more people.
The concerns about the future of the meetings which are held across Brighton and Hove have been raised by opposition councillors and those affected in the community.
The issue came to light during the Queen’s Park by-election hustings. Green councillor Kerry Pickett, who represents Preston Park, said that she had been told unofficially that Brighton and Hove City Council’s community engagement meetings were coming to an end.
She and the Green opposition leader, Steve Davis, were told that the new cabinet member for the economy, culture, heritage and tourism, Labour councillor David McGregor, did not want to continue with the public meetings.
A final meeting is scheduled for Preston Park residents and traders to discuss Pride in the Park on Monday 12 October.
When Councillor Pickett responded to inquiries from the Local Democracy Reporting Service yesterday (Thursday 24 September), the event was not publicised on the council’s Outdoor Events Forum.
Councillor Pickett said that she planned to promote the meeting herself because if no one turned up, it would “create the circumstances that make the policy look acceptable”.
She said: “I know Preston Park residents in particular believe these meetings are important to attend so that they can voice their complaints in person.
“I also think that if residents find out that these meetings are to be cancelled, they will be furious.
“These meetings were set up by Ian Baird. He has done an excellent job with residents and although some issues remain, it has definitely made a positive difference with regard to resident input.
“For Councillor McGregor to heavy-handedly decide he is going to pull this engagement will be a big mistake for a ‘listening Labour administration’ who is increasingly showing that they are anything but.”
Less than an hour after hearing about the issue from Councillor Pickett and the Local Democracy Reporting Service asking about the lack of publicity for the Preston Park meeting, the event appeared on the council’s website.
Conservative councillor Ivan Lyons, who represents Westdene and Hove Park, had expected a public meeting to enable residents to give feedback on events in Hove Park and across the area over the summer.
Alongside his ward colleague, Independent councillor Samer Bagaeen, Councillor Lyons raised concerns about the lack of information about the concerts in Hove Park at the outdoor event meeting held in March.
The first that he had heard about the Hove Park concerts was their promotion on Facebook.
Councillor Lyons said: “Interestingly, there hasn’t been diarised any further outdoor event meetings as far as I am aware.
“In regard to the Hove Park events, while the feedback has generally been positive – indeed I went to the Levellers show – the aftermath and ruin of the park has been terrible.
“I have received many, many emails about the mess and, as you will note from my Facebook posts, have raised a number of questions – with the responses pretty generic from the council in reply.”
Councillor Bagaeen objected to the event and called for a public meeting as soon as he was informed.
At the time, he was told that the timeframe for the concerts was “truncated” and the outdoor events development manager Mr Baird said that in future promoters would be asked not to “jump the gun” with their publicity.
Councillor Bagaeen has been equally frustrated by the “sidelining” of ward councillors who had been elected by people to speak for them.
He said: “I do not expect the council always to agree with me. Nor should officers simply do whatever a councillor asks.
“But I do expect residents to be listened to, evidence to matter and elected representatives to be allowed to represent their communities properly.”
Kemp Town resident and Liberal Democrat activist Robert Brown has attended every outdoor events public meeting relating to east and central Brighton.
He said: “The whole point of ‘engagement’ is for residents and businesses to share their concerns. This is horrendous if true.
“I’ve been trying to get a date for the Kemptown and East Brighton engagement meetings for months now – they were supposed to have had one in August – and I believe that they would try to stop them due to the backlash around Black Rock, On the Beach and other events.
“This is just not good enough from a supposedly ‘listening council’.”
The council’s website shows an inquiry from the Friends of Valley Gardens asking for a date for the next meeting for events affecting people who live in the area and neighbouring North Laine and Hanover.
They have previously voiced concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour which they believe was linked to some of those attending Spiegel Gardens, Caravanserai, and Revel Puck Circus.
Councillor McGregor said: “We are currently reviewing how we deliver our public engagement meetings about events.
“The meetings began informally in 2023 and were formalised in 2024 but they have a limited reach and we’re keen to create a space which gives a broader cross-section of our community the opportunity to have their voices heard.
“Our online forum for residents will remain active on our Your Voice platform to keep the conversation about events going while we finalise plans for future in-person events.
“We also already have in-person feedback meetings scheduled about the Pride Street Party and Pride on the Park.
“Our intention is for these to be more city-wide, rather than focus on a specific area, and we will share our plans shortly.
“It is important to use that as many residents as possible can take part and we’re confident this decision will allow just that.”
Pride in the Park feedback is due to take place at the Preston Lawn Tennis Club, in Preston Drove, at 5pm on Monday 12 October. To register visit the Outdoor Events section of the council website.
I’d like to see a whole reimagining of the Community Engagement paradigm.
I thought Ms Sankey was the one struck by the “re-imagine” sickness. She has certainly made it clear there is nothing she would like better than to dispense with democracy in this administration.
Apart from all the things, that you frequently moan about cluelessly, that are specifically designed to increase democracy. What a hypocritical piece of nonsense.
It would be more honest if we could cut to the chase on arguments like this.
The truth might be that:
1) The council have to be commercially minded nowadays, and raising money and avoiding spending council money would probably be the same which ever political party was in charge.
2) These events are popular with those attending, and so are a joy for a large number of residents plus they attract more visitors to the city.
3) The council then get a fee from the event organisers for them using the city park.
4) For sure, there will be local residents affected by noise and other disruption – but that has to be weighed up against the fun and joy and commercial benefits these events bring.
5) If you hold a public meeting this just brings out the moaners, and that pretence, that the council is listening, is actually costing more money – when they’ve already decided the event should happen.
6) The frustration is then real for those against events bring held, and they will always find support from opposition councillors who can choose to take sides for political gain – when in truth those same councillors would probably sanction the same event themselves, where they in a position to make that decision.
7) So we end up with this silly cat and mouse game, and meetings to air views are more tokenism than true consultation – another box ticking exercise with more council tax wasted.
8) But what’s the alternative? Do we just cancel all these public events and festivals?
The alternative is simple: Ask the residents what sort of events they want , where they want them and when ? Plus ensure the community and businesses where the events take place benefit. At the moment they dont
Derek, wouldn’t that be like asking a kid what they’d like for dinner?
But Derek, what if what the residents state that want just simply isn’t viable? Council wouldn’t then be able to turn around and go “Well, this is what you asked for.” – and does the community benefit already through the additional income for services?
And, if we see a tourist levy come into play, that potentially is more benefit from people being attracted to events that can directly address a number of issues that people have rightly felt been inadequate, like, simple one, funding to keep all the public toilets open and clean.
Labour are the fascist regime of the 21st century.
You misspelt Reform there, Alex. Let’s remind ourselves that banning books because they didn’t agree with the information bares a striking resemblance to the actions of Nazi Germany.
Putting the “n” into the word “democracy” as our local landlord puts it.
You write:
“For sure, there will be local residents affected by noise and other disruption – but that has to be weighed up against the fun and joy and commercial benefits these events bring. If you hold a public meeting this just brings out the moaners”.
Oh my, where to start…
…you imply local residents, who pay some of the highest rates of Council Tax in the country for the privilege of living in a Conservation Area/by the sea, should have fewer civil rights than those who want to party and/or make a profit.
As to the term “moaners”, since when did democracy – as local councils are supposed to engender at a grass roots level – proscribe disagreeing with what a local administration imposes on them? Isn’t that the point of a democratic system, that all people have the right to express an opinion? *
Apart from anything else, it’s a matter of political principle, and I’m sure you would be the first to complain were BHCC to pass a motion that nobody with the name Billy should be allowed to post comments under local newspaper articles.
*Whether or not you, Billy, agree with it.
I agree with Billy comments, he’s shared a very balanced pragmatic perspective here. Brighton is a tourist city, the reasonable expectation is that tourist things will happen, like events, regularly. Especially in the centre. It’s an important economic drive for funding this high-service city. This is especially potent for those moving in recent years. Maybe the answer is supporting those who have been here for a long time to move to an area more aligned with their sensibilities?
And I agree with the comments that the green areas would benefit from protective mitigations, I suggested things like underground mesh/terf to protect the grass and mitigation from impaction of soil. Derek has made suggestions about using Black Rock and hardstanding areas for events more. Billy here suggests an alternative model should be explored to avoid the frustration that comes from consultation that feel tokenistic.
Democracy allows everyone to voice an opinion, however, not all opinion is worth listening to.
Thanks for your reply, Diane. I’m sorry if my attempt to present an overview of the situation appears to have annoyed you.
You mention ‘rights’ but I don’t think paying council tax gives us the right to stop a festival or event in a local park – if there are widespread benefits for other residents and our visitors. It’s really down to what is reasonable.
As for the ‘moaners’ we do have a lot of those who have turned up to meetings that I attended, often convinced they are right, or needing to control others, or just liking the sound of their own voice.
I’ve stopped going to those sort of public meetings now.
If you read what I wrote, I also wasn’t very complimentary about the council – and their frequently tokenistic consultations.
I guess the key thing about democracy is that we as individuals don’t always get what we want, and we have to go with a majority decision. The best way to voice our anger is at the ballot box, but yes, true public meetings on controversial issues should still happen.
The other way we try to measure public opinion is by comments on social media, or perhaps in posts like this. But of course my opinion is just one, and may not reflect the majority view.
It’s ironic that banning anyone called Billy from posting, might free up some more of my time, and that would probably be a good thing. On the other hand, most people now seem to post under made up names, and some even use Ai bots to create a fake or skewed majority view.
Because of all this, trust is at an all time low.
Addressing your points separately:-
“You mention ‘rights’ but I don’t think paying council tax gives us the right to stop a festival or event in a local park – if there are widespread benefits for other residents and our visitors. It’s really down to what is reasonable.”
Paying Council Tax is an acknowledgment of a stake in your local area, about which you are allowed to have a view.
Back-to-back VERY LOUD festivals and events in the same area of the city throughout the summer – which multiply every year – is not ‘reasonable’ to those who live there, who have no say as to whether the events take place at all, and whose lives are disrupted in numerous ways, not least with being unable to sleep for multiple nights in a row.
“As for the ‘moaners’ we do have a lot of those who have turned up to meetings that I attended, often convinced they are right, or needing to control others, or just liking the sound of their own voice.”
You have a very distorted view of democracy, Billy, though presumably only when people disagree with you. “Moaners” indeed.
People are generally convinced they are right about their own feelings, aren’t they? Or do you know better about their feelings than they do? “Needing to control others”? Are you sure? Or are you mistaking people railing against not being allowed to get to the end of a sentence without being shouted down?
“I guess the key thing about democracy is that we as individuals don’t always get what we want, and we have to go with a majority decision.”
Well, here’s the rub: there has never been a majority decision on how many events should take place in this end of town, it’s always been imposed on us by the Council. But then, I’m guessing you have interests in the hospitality industry, so you don’t mind that kind of imposition.
“…most people now seem to post under made up names, and some even use Ai bots”
I’ve always posted under my own name, so I’m not quite sure why you’ve included that sentence in your reply to me. But then, there are lots of things I don’t understand about this issue, chiefly why residents who are against the ever-expanding events calendar which disrupt their lives for weeks on end aren’t supposed to express an opinion.
“People are generally convinced they are right about their own feelings, aren’t they?” – Diane Messias.
Quote for the ages, that one.
There will be local elections next year. Labour don’t want to invest in events which mostly provide opportunities for people to chuck rocks at them ( not literally of course) so they won’t carry on after Xmas. Public events will instead be around the Better Brighton & Hove Fund announcements which have been stalled to provide a pre-election boost for Labour in a very Trumpian attempt to purchase votes. you watch and see if I am wrong.
Yeah, I can see you’re already wrong, my friend!
The budget reporting from earlier on this year shows a clear focus on investing and improving events in and around Brighton. Black Rock is one such example of an output of that. The agreement to more events is another.
Better Brighton and Hove Funding is basically taking CIL/S106 and empowering people to decide on how that is being spent, and that’s being going on for ages beforehand, if it was as you say, it would have been something used for the Queen’s Park by-election yesterday, and it also goes out regardless of how election turns out.
Trump on the other hand – he already “owes” voters £5k from the last time he made that promise.
You clearly don’t understand the CIL/106 process – but that’s OK few people do.
Ask *any* councillor why a process that was supposed to be complete months back is still outstanding, and they will not have an answer.
The public events will be scrapped because they show the administration in a bad light and why would they put resources into that in an election year?
You will know that Labour generally are keen on message control, and our current administration are massive fans of extreme control and centralisation.
Like I said – you watch and see if I am right.
You are aware how the Better Brighton & Hove Fund is funded, right? It come directly from CIL agreements. Well, I asked a council officer fairly recently about this, and it’s still within the timeline of an Autumn 2026 delivery; and the due diligence that needs to happen regarding the proposals taken forward.
Believe it not, councillors are only one element of the council. Most work proceeds apolitically. To claim something is being held back for an election fundamentally fails to understand how a council actually works.
One does not know Councillor McGregor, so perhaps one should reserve judgment until this promised new model of engagement reveals itself.
But replacing small, local meetings with something more “city-wide” does rather risk losing the very people whose lives are most directly affected.
Surely the art of engagement is not merely reaching more people, but actually listening to those with something to say?
Perhaps this is one for young Councillor Allen to take on. He strikes one as a man rather fond of proper engagement, and there are worse causes than ensuring residents retain somewhere to be heard, particularly when the music, crowds and aftermath are quite literally on their doorstep.
One final observation.
Some of the comments below this article are terribly mean-spirited. Disagreement is rather the point of public debate. Calling people clueless, hypocritical or suggesting that their opinions are simply not worth listening to rather demonstrates why genuine engagement matters in the first place.
One may disagree without being disagreeable.
Even Lady Bracknell manages it occasionally.
I know Councillor McGregor, Lady Bracknell; he was extremely rude to me at an engagement meeting – must have forgotten his Councillor Pledge to treat constituents with respect that day #doh – and when I recounted the incident in a Facebook group, he threatened to consult lawyers. I reminded him his remarks had been witnessed by all those present in a public meeting, and I heard no more.
He is totally pro these events, and won’t counter any dissent. Thus, it’s hardly surprising he’s curtailing the engagement meetings.
I despair at the mechanisms of democracy receding into the distance on a daily basis in this city: first the Cabinet structure, with non-Cabinet members’ opportunity to scrutinise vastly reduced; now no engagement meetings. Since 75% of elected councillors are not Cabinet members, which diminishes even their opportunity for democratic engagement, what chance do we constituents have?! Frankly, it’s now pointless being a non-Cabinet member councillor, and even more pointless voting as a member of the public.
Perhaps it’s wise to keep one’s handbag at the ready, m’Lady.
Diane, my dearest, that sounds like a most unhappy encounter. My deepest condolences.
I confess I know very little about this Mr McGregor. What fox hole hast he sprung out from? My principal acquaintance with a gentleman of that name comes from Peter Rabbit, and he was not terribly nice either.
So, having not witnessed your exchange, I shall resist reaching for the handbag on that particular matter.
I do, however, find myself returning to young Councillor Jacob Allen, who is becoming an irritatingly useful example of how these things can be done. One may disagree with him, as indeed I occasionally do, but he turns up, engages, explains himself, applies his protective goggles, and seems perfectly capable of being challenged without taking it as a personal affront.
At this rate I shall have to stop praising him. The Viscount is already becoming quite impossible.
Rather sadly, I have heard quite different feedback repeatedly about the other Jacob, the elder one, Councillor Taylor of Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, particularly concerning the manner in which he sometimes engages with people socially. I say socially, but what an awkward creature he is. One more fit for the back office 🏢 of the bank I fear. I have not experienced his well known temperament myself, so shall go no further than that.
But perhaps there is a broader lesson here. Politics is disagreement. If one chooses public life, surely being questioned, challenged and occasionally irritated by the public rather comes with the furniture.
Young Councillor Jacob Allen appears to have grasped this alarmingly early in his career.
The handbag shall remain at the ready, but for the moment firmly closed.
Augusta
Dear Augusta,
How kind of you to sympathise about the distressing incident with Cllr McGregor. Could there be a curse on the name McGregor, do you think? Or perhaps Cllr McGregor experienced an uncertain start in life, having being found as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station – on the Brighton Line, of course – and has yet to work through the indignity. We might never know. Though one must admit his rise to the top has been stellar, as evidenced by his current position as Cabinet member for the economy, culture, heritage, tourism, injured seagulls, lost property (excluding collapsible umbrellas) and digestive biscuits. (One can’t help but wonder what the rest of the Cabinet members are responsible for; they can’t all be concerned with non-collapsible umbrellas, surely?)
I’m afraid I’m not even mildly familiar with either of the Cllrs Jacob, but you appear to be an excellent judge of character, so I will start from a position of favouritism. Although frankly – I somehow feel I can be honest with you – I’ve yet to meet any councillor who can hold a candle to Rottingdean’s finest, Cllr Bridget Fishleigh.
It’s all moot, anyway, since local elections are turning out to be a waste of a walk to a polling station, unless one has the intention of crossing out ‘Brighton & Hove’ at the top of the voting slip, and replacing it with ‘Glastonbury-by-the-Sea’.
My warmest regards,
Diane
Diane, my dear, a handbag at Victoria Station? Now you really are speaking my language.
Your comment has greatly enlivened my Sunday morning pot of Lady Grey. Bone china, naturally. Although one must insist that being found on the Brighton line is never an excuse for bad manners.
I shall, however, keep a much closer eye on this Mr McGregor, along with his Cabinet colleagues Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. One has been warned.
Equally I shall take your recommendation of Councillor Fishleigh under serious advisement.
If she meets the required standard of good humour, courteous disagreement and an ability to survive contact with the electorate, young Councillor Jacob Allen may yet have some competition.
Yours,
Augusta
My dear Augusta,
I confess that I was following your remarks with considerable admiration until I reached the words “young Councillor Allen”.
Young Councillor Allen.
A phrase which I suspect you selected with rather more care than you are prepared to admit.
It is, of course, perfectly proper that a gentleman of 27 should be encouraged in the noble pursuit of proper engagement. And if the young whippersnapper from Woodingdean is indeed “rather fond” of listening to residents, then I am sure the city is in safe hands.
Although I cannot help noticing that you appear to have developed a certain fondness for him yourself.
One does try to remain above such things. A Viscount should surely be capable of regarding the attractions of youth with dignified indifference.
It is proving surprisingly difficult.
Still, let us return to the serious matter. The council’s explanation that local meetings are being reviewed so that a “broader cross-section” can be heard sounds perfectly reasonable until one remembers that the people attending these meetings are rather specifically the people whose gardens, sleep, streets and businesses are affected by what happens on their doorstep.
There is something wonderfully modern about replacing a room full of residents who actually live beside an event with a city-wide engagement model designed to reach more people who may not live anywhere near it.
Perhaps the young Councillor Allen might explain to us whether “broader” necessarily means “better”, or whether sometimes the people most worth listening to are simply the ones who have to put up with the consequences.
And if he can persuade the administration of that, I may even forgive him for being young, energetic, engaged and, apparently, rather highly regarded by a certain Lady of my acquaintance.
I shall endeavour not to be jealous.
I make no promises.
As for you, my dear Augusta, I fear you have now left me in the rather awkward position of having to compete with a 27-year-old Woodingdean whippersnapper on the question of civic engagement.
I possess neither his youth nor his enthusiasm for modern municipal methodology.
But I do have biscuits.
And, should you ever tire of the young Councillor Allen’s earnest attentiveness, I remain perfectly capable of offering a considerably older gentleman’s alternative: a quiet table, a sea view, and absolutely no requirement whatsoever to complete an online engagement survey before ordering lunch.
Yours, with considerably more fondness, and rather more jealousy than is strictly dignified,
Viscount Biscuit 🍪
Orange or mint ? – the biscuits I mean.
Sir Dunkerton, surely orange.
Mint in a biscuit suggests something has gone terribly wrong at home.
Augusta
My dear Viscount,
Your anxiety is quite unnecessary. My admiration for young Councillor Jacob Allen is entirely municipal.
Although I confess your repeated outbreaks of jealousy are becoming rather touching.
You may lack his youth, but you possess biscuits, a sea view, an increasingly ambitious cellar and an apparently inexhaustible capacity to propose lunch to a married woman while insisting that the arrangement is constitutional.
These are not inconsiderable assets.
Lord Bracknell has, however, begun to notice the frequency with which the words “quiet table” are appearing in my correspondence.
Do try to behave.
Lady B
Sad to see another interesting – and important – discussion, has gone down the looney rabbit hole.
Sorry Billy. For what is worth, I find your comments insightful.
Fascinating how you continue to think it’s all about you Benjamin. Your trolling and overinflated sense of self importance are the most loony and toxic thing about this papers comments section.
Then stop making it about me, lol. I’d rather talk about the article and challenge people’s perceptions as a contrarian. If an argument can be shown to be flawed when challenged, perhaps it wasn’t built on a particularly strong foundation in the first place? Likewise, several people on here are good examples of the opposite: a strong argument makes for an interesting discussion. In theory, anyway!
This comment thread did actually give me pause for thought about one of the limitations of consultation, particularly the problem of the “regular suspects” who attend public meetings. We see it even on here. I’m a prime example of it, right?
Is it genuinely meaningful when it’s largely the same relatively small group of engaged people who constantly turn up? Their views still matter, obviously, particularly when they’re directly affected, but we shouldn’t confuse the people who participate most frequently with a representative sample of public opinion. Otherwise we risk getting a very skewed idea of what the wider community actually thinks.
That’s why I suggested earlier we need a completely different paradigm. How do we hear from the people who don’t attend public meetings, don’t fill in surveys, don’t write to councillors and don’t spend their Saturday night arguing underneath Brighton and Hove News articles? 😜
We’re still a vocal minority. The interesting challenge is working out how to do it better, just like Billy suggested.
Please can the moderators ban Benjamin for repeated personal attacks on others? It’s become tedious, to put it mildly, and merely seems to provoke some others to respond inappropriately themselves. It’s clear he’s a party propagandist, and all too often his grasp of the facts leaves rather a lot to be desired.
Dearest Augusta,
Does one assume the pot of Lady Grey tea is accompanied by the usual fare of cucumber sandwiches? I certainly hope so.
Councillor Fishleigh is bright, engaged, proactive, and socially sophisticated. (Come to think of it, she might not actually be from Rottingdean, but from another planet). Very refreshing, particularly when one’s still awaiting a reply from a councillor in one’s own ward to a missive they sent him in 2023.
Well, I’m not one to complain. Let’s celebrate the fact we’re still able to converse about politics at all before an edict comes down from BHCC HQ that all discussion about local governance is proscribed forthwith, and/or we can’t hear ourselves think over the BANG BANG BANG BANG of relentless outdoor events. (Perhaps a cucumber sandwich in each ear will help ameliorate that affliction?)
Fondest regards,
Diane
Ian Baird in charge of council outdoor events ignores letters and emails, he just goes through the motions to make you think the public are involved then is not accountable for his decisions. So don’t be fooled we have any say its Labour our opinions are NOT taken into account.