The Brighton & Hove City Council Cabinet is scheduled to meet on 25 September 2025, to discuss a number of important issues including local government reorganisation, the King Alfred Leisure Centre regeneration, admitting a new member to the Greater Brighton Economic Board, a new ballot for the Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District, a corporate health and safety policy, and rough sleeping services.

Local Government Reorganisation

The cabinet will be asked to consider a report on Local Government Reorganisation, and to approve a submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The submission includes a statutory Base Proposal, based on existing principal authority boundaries, as well as a request for ministerial modification to consult on a refined five-unitary model across Sussex. The report pack states that this model would have each council serving approximately 300,000 to 400,000 residents.

The report pack notes that the council is legally required to submit a proposal framed on whole principal authority boundaries and that without it, the submission would be invalid. The document states that the council assessed alternatives using a Sussex-wide evidence base and that options were reviewed against six government criteria and with reference to functional geographies, service footprints and population scale.

The six criteria are:

• A proposal should seek to achieve for the whole of the area concerned the establishment of a single tier of local government.
• Unitary local government must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.
• Unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens.
• Proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.
• New unitary structures must support devolution arrangements.
• New unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

The three main structural configurations that were assessed were three, four and five unitary councils. The report pack includes Appendix 1: Representative Councils for a Devolved Sussex: A Five Unitary Proposal and Appendix 2 - LGR Engagement Document - July to August 2025.

The King Alfred Leisure Centre Regeneration Project

The cabinet will consider a report regarding the King Alfred Leisure Centre Regeneration Project¹, and will be asked to approve the project progressing from its current concept design stage to spatial coordination and technical design, including submission of the planning application.

The report pack includes an overview of the emerging concept design and associated cost plan, which have been developed since the professional team's appointment at the beginning of the year. The report pack states that the regeneration of King Alfred Leisure Centre is a key strategic investment for the city, and that the project will deliver the regeneration of an iconic site and provide a 21st century leisure facility. The report also notes that the project will enable the release of surplus land for new housing provision.

The design proposals are set out in Appendix 1. The report pack also includes Appendix 2: Report from the April and May focus group sessions, Appendix 3: Summary of key messages from July sports clubs' engagement, Appendix 4: Sustainability brief and Appendix 5: Red line drawing of area of be demolished as part of the enabling works.

Admission of New Member to the Greater Brighton Economic Board

The cabinet will consider a report about the admission of the Sussex Chamber of Commerce to the Greater Brighton Economic Board² (GBEB) as a member of the Greater Brighton Business Partnership.

The report pack states that at the GBEB meeting on 9 July 2025, a decision was agreed that the Sussex Chamber of Commerce should become a constituent member of the Board. The report pack notes that the Sussex Chamber of Commerce has a vision to support and drive sustainable economic growth and champion key issues in Sussex and that its priorities are aligned with the GBEB, having a focus on economic development, the environment, climate change and infrastructure. The report pack includes Appendix 1: Heads of Terms for the Greater Brighton Economic Board.

Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District (BID) – New Ballot

The cabinet will consider a report seeking approval for the renewal of the existing city centre Business Improvement District³ (BID) in 2026.

The report pack notes that the current city centre BID 'Brilliant Brighton' lasts from July 2021 until June 2026, and encompasses 517 retail and hospitality businesses on the ground floor of commercial premises within the area covering Western Road to the junction with Montpelier Road, Preston Street, North Street and parts of both The Lanes and the North Laine. The report pack states that the BID is run by its Board of Directors who are comprised of ratepayers from within the BID area, and that it is not run by the council. The report pack also notes that the BID currently charges a BID levy of 1.5% per annum, which generates around £390,000 per annum. The report pack states that consultations took place in June and July 2025 with all non-domestic ratepayers in the affected areas and included a focus on the geographical scope as well as options for expansion.

Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy

The cabinet will consider a report informing them of the outcome of engagement with senior officers, staff, trade unions and other stakeholders on developing a new Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, and seeking approval for the new refreshed policy.

The report pack notes that the proposed new health, safety and wellbeing policy will pave the way for cultural change, provide clarity on roles and accountability and will embed a learning organisation approach.

Rough Sleeping & Single Homeless Services Commissioning

The cabinet will consider a report seeking approval to recommission the city's core Street Outreach Service (SOS), which is due to end in March 2026.

The report pack notes that the SOS is the city's primary frontline response to rough sleeping, and is responsible for identifying new people who are experiencing rough sleeping and supporting existing ones. The report pack states that the SOS engage with and rapidly assess the needs of those living on the streets and provide appropriate support to enable individuals to access accommodation, support, or to relocate. The report pack also notes that the SOS organises and runs bi-monthly street counts of people who are experiencing rough sleeping and jointly facilitates the Autumn rough sleeping count or estimate with the local authority. The service also supports Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) in Brighton & Hove.

Public Involvement

The cabinet will also consider petitions presented by members of the public, and written questions submitted by the due date.

One petition requests that the council extend public toilet opening times, and the other objects to the Withdean Indoor Tennis Court Conversion.