Council’s new forward plan is chance for residents to see what big decisions are coming up
We've published the first instalment of our Forward Plan – a new document letting residents know about all the important decisions coming up at the council.
Councillors recently voted to move from our previous committee system to a Cabinet model with a firm emphasis on increasing public engagement and making it easier for our residents to get involved in local democracy.
As part of the new cabinet system, we've published a Forward Plan outlining important decisions which the Cabinet, or individual Cabinet members, intend to take in the next month.
We'll publish an updated plan each month ahead of the next Cabinet meeting and we've committed to letting residents know the key decisions at least 28 days before they're taken, while ensuring there’s time for public participation at Cabinet meetings.
The plan lists key decisions which will impact on two or more electoral wards or which will have a significant impact on the council’s budget.
Those scheduled for debate at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 27 June and now listed on the Forward Plan are:
- Thriving Communities Investment Fund 2025-2029. Our multi-year grants programme for the community and voluntary sector, with £7.2million available to groups to support the delivery of our local priorities over the next four years.
- Emergency Accommodation Management Services Pilot. An 18-month pilot scheme aimed at helping us support the city’s most vulnerable and in-need residents into appropriate accommodation.
- Museums Trust Loan Agreement. Councillors will decide whether to approve an advance to the Royal Pavilion Museums Trust in line with an existing loan agreement.
- Targeted Budget Management Provisional Outturn 2023/24. A report looking back at our revenue and capital budgets for the last financial year 2023/24.
- A259 seafront cycle lane. Recommendations for the seafront cycle lane and possible uses of funding awarded to us from the Active Travel Fund.
- The future of Homewood College. Councillors will discuss the future of Homewood College.
- Homes for Brighton & Hove. A report about the purchase and development for affordable housing as part of the Sackville Trading Estate.
- Commercial and Residential (non HRA) Property Disposals. Proposals for the potential disposal of three properties.
- Health and Safety Update and Housing Revenue Account Repairs and Maintenance Procurement report. This report gives councillors and residents an important update on work being done on health and safety compliance in the city’s council homes and our plans to keep homes in good repair, respond to damp and condensation issues and maintain performance on letting empty homes.
As part of our commitment to transparency, other items set for discussion at Cabinet meetings will also be highlighted on the Forward Plan alongside all key decisions.
Examples of upcoming items on 27 June include a report on preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse and sexual violence and an Affordable Housing Planning Advice Note to help officers in future negotiations with developers over provision of affordable housing in the city.
All Cabinet meetings are open to the public and detailed reports relating to each item will be published five days before each meeting.
Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy leader and cabinet member for Finance and City Regeneration, said: “We’re delighted to launch our Forward Plan. It's a key part of this council’s commitment to openness and transparency.
“The first Cabinet meeting includes a number of important decisions for discussion, from a grants programme for the community and voluntary sector, to consideration of the final budget position for 2023/24.
“This is an exciting new era for the council and one which we believe will not only lead to more efficient and effective decision making, helping us deliver on the priorities of local people and businesses, but also see more residents actively engage in local democracy.”
