Brighton & Hove’s 2021/2022 municipal year began on Thursday 20 May 2021 where key council appointments are made for the year ahead.
The session was lead by Mayor Alan Robins at Hove Town Hall with slimmed down attendance in order to ensure the session was Covid safe. Fourteen councillors and a small number of council officers were present.
Following two recent by-elections newly elected Members, Councillor Zoe John and Councillor Anne Meadows, were also welcomed and introduced by their political group leaders.
Mayor of the City of Brighton & Hove
Councillor Alan Robins (Labour Group) was elected to serve as Mayor of the City of Brighton & Hove for another term.
The Brighton & Hove Interfaith Contact Group will support as the Mayor’s chaplaincy. The group work together to build peaceful relations, and promote greater understanding between people of different faiths, and none, across Brighton & Hove communities.
Councillor Mary Mears (Conservative Group) was elected as Deputy Mayor.
The mayor is the first citizen of Brighton & Hove and undertakes an important ceremonial role in and outside the city and presides over sessions of the full council. The mayor is politically neutral when carrying out all the mayoral duties.
Find out more about the role and duties of the Mayor.
Leader of the council
Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty (Green Group) was appointed Leader of the Council.
The leader works closely with the council’s officers, especially the chief executive officer, to make sure that the decisions of the council are acted upon and that the council abides by the law and the constitution of Brighton & Hove City Council.
The leader of the council is responsible for:
• making decisions
• setting policy direction and council priorities and working with the chairs of other committees
• chairing the Policy & Resources Committee
• working with other organisations for the benefit of Brighton & Hove
• working with the Mayor as an ambassador for the city and the council
Councillor John Allcock (Labour Group) and Councillor Carmen Appich (Labour Group) are joint leaders of the opposition.
Committee appointments and membership
The chairs and membership of the council’s committees, boards and working groups were also made.