Huge cuts proposed in Brighton council budget plans

Brighton and Hove City Council will outline its budget proposals in a meeting of the policy and resources committee later this afternoon.

The plans will then be debated in a meeting of all councillors later this month.

Among the plans include scrapping two youth funds, reducing the opening times of most of the city’s libraries and charging a 10 per cent fee on the sale of beach huts.

Here is an overview of the main cuts and savings being put forward to councillors today.

Lifeguard stations to be reduced by 30 per cent

Budget proposals from the council would see the number of lifeguard stations reduced by 30 per cent

The council plan on reducing the number of lifeguard stations from seven plus three in the summer holidays, to just four plus three.

While the council acknowledge there is a “potential increased risk to public safety”, the busiest areas will still be “prioritised and covered” despite the cuts.

A document outlining the plans also warned of “negative reputational impact and potential increased demands on the lifeguard team caused by staffing”. 

However, it added: “The proposal is in common with most seaside resorts, who only cover their main destination areas.”

The proposal would save £100,000.

Mile Oak Library to close, with reduced opening hours elsewhere

Mile Oak Library opened in 2014 as part of a development of Portslade Aldridge Community Academy

Mile Oak Library in Chalky Road, Portslade, will be closed under the budget plans, saving £35,000.

The council cited low visitor numbers behind the proposed closure, with only 150 per month, compared to 3,500 per month five years ago.

A council document said: “This library is the most expensive to run, currently working out at a cost of £19.02 per visit, compared to 78p average per visit cost at other community libraries.”

Along with the closure, all of the city’s libraries - with the exception of Jubilee Library, would have reduced staffing opening hours, including closures on Sundays.

The plans, which would save the council £76,000, would be subject to the outcome with consultation with staff and unions.

The council’s proposals for the city’s libraries also include plans to reinstate fines and charges for children at 15p a day, capped at £3.75.

'Facility fee' on ticket sales at Brighton Centre

A fee on ticket sales at the Brighton Centre could be introduced under council plans

A £1.50 facility fee would be introduced on all ticket sales at the Brighton Centre under plans outlined by the council’s proposed budget, which would make around £75,000 additional income.

The venue currently sells around 80,000 tickets per year, with a council document warning that the new proposed fee “affect demand for events”.

Parking pay and display machines to be scrapped

All of Brighton and Hove’s pay and display machines would be removed, under the plans outlined in the council’s proposed budget.

The move would eliminate pressure on the council’s finances to convert the machines to 4G by later this year, as well as saving on cash collection, maintenance and other costs.

Some 22 per cent of all parking transactions are made by the machines, according to a council document outlining the proposals.

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The document warns that there could be an impact around “digital exclusion” as all payments would be made through the Paybyphone app, with no cash or card facility.

However, the document added that 78 per cent of payments are made through the app, with a campaign to encourage people to register ahead of parking in the city to be launched, should the proposal go ahead.

Two youth programmes to be axed

Under council proposals, two youth-based programmes - the Youth Led Grants Programme and the Youth Arts Programme, will be scrapped to save more than £100,000 from the council’s budget.

Currently, the Youth Led Grants Programme provides additionally-funded youth activities and projects delivered by the community and voluntary sector.

While no additional projects would be funded under the proposed budget, the reduction in funding could be offset through money from the council’s Holiday Activity and Food programme.

This, however, is dependent on funding being continued in the annual spending review.

Supported Employment scheme to be scrapped

A scheme to help residents who have learning disabilities to seek and maintain paid employment will be scrapped under council plans, saving £210,000.

The scheme, part of the council’s employability service, also provides support to employers through training, job coaching and advice.

A council document warns the planned cuts could lead to “reduced support to disabled people in finding and sustaining employment”.

The council’s youth employment hub is funded by the Department of Work and Pensions until October 2023, at which point the hub will also close.

Beach hut sales fee to be introduced

A fee on the sale of beach huts could be introduced as part of the council's budget for the year ahead

A 10 per cent fee would be charged on those selling beach huts in the city, under plans outlined by the council.

Along with this, a 10 per cent increase will be imposed on beach hut licence fees to reflect inflationary impacts on council costs.

Public toilets to be saved from cuts

Although widespread cuts have been planned to other services, public toilets have been saved from the council’s scalpel.

Under the council’s budget proposals, no savings are planned to the city’s public toilets, but business support will be provided to address future sustainability and resilience of public toilet provision.