Brighton & Hove City Council will hold a Special Council meeting on Wednesday 24 September at 6.30pm to allow all councillors to debate the council’s proposed submission to government on proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR).
Local government reorganisation is a government-led process that invites proposals to create unitary councils which deliver all council services in one place, rather than across two tiers of local government which currently exist in some places in the form of county, district and borough councils.
The establishment of new unitary councils will replace the two-tier system in England, including in Sussex.
Brighton & Hove City Council is already a unitary authority. While Brighton & Hove City Council is not required to change, the wider Sussex context means it has been invited to submit its proposals for the arrangements which will best serve residents and support the future governance of Sussex.
The Special Council meeting is a key part of its local decision-making process to give all elected councillors the chance to debate the proposals in full and ensure that the views of local communities are reflected in the meeting.
The council meeting takes place ahead of the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 25 September, when Cabinet members will consider and determine the proposal to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The council has placed strong emphasis on listening to its residents, through community meetings, drop-in sessions and ongoing engagement with other authorities.
Regular discussions through overview and scrutiny committees have further strengthened the engagement process and a further overview and scrutiny session is planned for Monday 22 September.
