Brighton council takes step towards devolution

The leader of the council said it would be an "excellent opportunity" for the city

Brighton and Hove could eventually have its own directly elected mayor, councillors were told on Thursday.

Bella Sankey, Labour leader of the council, announced that the local authority was preparing to take the first step towards devolution.

Devolution is where powers are transferred from central to local government, giving them more say over how things are run.

Ms Sankey said the council will work with neighbouring authorities to "identify a devolution option that would deliver maximum benefits for the residents of our city and the wider Sussex region".

• What is devolution and how does it work in the UK?

The Local Government Association (LGA) says devolution can result in "more effective, better targeted public services, greater growth and stronger partnerships between public, private and community leaders in local areas."

Critics argue it can worsen regional inequality, create additional costs and bureaucracy and complicate accountability.

'Excellent opportunity'

Plans under consideration in Brighton could involve an elected mayor taking political charge of a bigger geographical area that includes the East Sussex city and some neighbouring councils.

The Government has invited applications for devolution deals in areas where none currently exist, said Ms Sankey.

She added: "This presents an excellent opportunity for our city."

Just after the turn of the millennium, Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) proposed having an elected mayor and put the idea to voters in a referendum but it was rejected by a significant majority, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In April, Ms Sankey criticised the previous Conservative government for telling BHCC to form a “local growth hub” with neighbouring West Sussex County Council.

“The economies of Brighton and Hove and West Sussex [are] clearly distinct and operate across different geographies," she said.

When Labour came to power in July, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said that "for too long" Westminster had "tightly gripped control" and "held back opportunities for towns, cities and villages across the UK".

Multiple devolution deals across the country were approved by the government in September.