Council plan 2023 to 2027 refresh 2025 foreword

Our vision for a better Brighton & Hove for all

Brighton & Hove is an incredible city – full of energy, character and creativity. Recently recognised on the world stage by Time Out magazine as one of the top 50 cities globally and ranked among the top 3 destinations in the UK, our city’s reputation as a welcoming, colourful and vibrant place to live, work and visit is strong.

This recognition reflects what so many of us already know and love about Brighton & Hove. We are proud to be the most active and walkable city in the UK, which is increasingly diverse and inclusive, with a bustling independent retail sector, beautiful green spaces, an iconic seafront and more electric vehicle charging points than anywhere else in the country outside of London.

In July 2023, we launched our council plan: A Better Brighton & Hove for All, which set out bold ambitions for the future of our city. Those ambitions remain firmly in place, and we are as committed as ever to delivering them. This refresh of our Council Plan reflects our vision for a fairer, healthier and more sustainable city and the progress we are making together to turn that vision into a reality.

We have achieved so much over the past 2 years, but we know there is much more to do. We continue to listen closely to our city’s residents and businesses, our staff, and our partners, taking on board what we’ve heard and what the data is telling us about how we are doing.

Over the next 2 years, we will double down on our mission to improve the look and feel of our city, tackle inequality, address housing supply and prevent homelessness. We will drive sustainable economic growth and reap the benefits of devolution for our city – by improving and better integrating our transport systems, building more council and genuinely affordable housing, attract investment and maximising efforts to decarbonise at pace.

We know that following many years of underfunding by past Governments, councils are facing significant financial challenges. We are proud to have successfully balanced our books over the last two years and financial sustainability will continue to be at the forefront of everything we do. This will ensure the council’s resilience and the longer-term sustainability of services that our communities depend on. We remain ambitious to grow our city and will continue to target investment in the regeneration of our heritage assets, beautiful seafront and public realm amenities.

Brighton & Hove has incredible strengths - and together, we can continue to build on them to create a city that delivers a Better Brighton & Hove for all.

Councillor Bella Sankey

Leader Brighton & Hove City Council