Thread by @BHDemocracyNews

Jess Gibbons chief executive of #Brighton and #Hove City Council is introducing the local government reorganisation meeting in #Saltdean #LDreporter

On the panel answering questions are Cllrs Bella Sankey, John Hewitt, Mark Earthey and Bridget Fishleigh, there is a complaint from the audience there are not East Saltdean or Lewes District Councillors #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Local government reorganisation is part of the government's white paper to move all local government to unitary authorities. In Sussex we have two systems, the districts and counties and #Brighton and #Hove the unitary authority. #LDreporter

There's a bit of a curfuffle as the venue here is rammed and more people are trying to get in #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Back to Jess Gibbons. All local government was asked to consider its size & move to unitary authorities away from the two-tier model. Government wants all authorities to fit a population of 300-500K for efficiency, and asked small councils like #Brighton & #Hove how it can merge

Bella Sankey sets out the proposals and objectives. In July Angela Rayner wrote to top-tier council leaders, unitaries and counties, asking for interest in devolution. Powers and money held by central government would be passed down to regional government. #LDreporter

Government is centralised in England, but more of the UK is getting devolved, Scotland and Wales, and most of the north of England. Cllr Sankey says there are so many positives for this process on transport infrastructure and addressing climage change #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

The government wanted areas over 1 mil population and a co bid went in with East & West Sussex for a straegic authority for the whole of #Sussex with an elected Mayor from next May.

Local government reorganisation is for ALL councils. changing to unitaries

The government believes unitaries are more efficient. #Brighton and #Hove has been asked ot think about what makes sense to merge with wards on the boundaries as its population is 280K.
All the options proposed merging with wards to the east, in different combinations #LDreporter

The final proposals have to go to the government in September says Cllr Sankey. She wants to hear from residents and speak with representatives from those areas. Particularly the challenges and frustrations on local government #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

There is an idea this is about house building and #Brighton and #Hove wanting to concrete over the coast, this is not the case says Cllr Sankey. Yes there are housing targets, we need to build houses, but it is not the driving force. Planning will remain the same #LDreporter

There is a suggestion #Brighton and #Hove wants to shares its debt. The city council has a relatively low debt says Cllr Sankey. The council is building new swimming pools and businesses cases put together to make investments #LDreporter

Jess Gibbons says the next stage after September is the government reviewing the options that meet their tests. The government will decide what the new authorities will be #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Bridget Fishleigh does a quick check where people are from and the vast majority are East #Saltdean, with a handful from Telscombe, #Peacehaven and #Newhaven #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Fishleigh is going through the history of moves to unite #Saltdean which has had multiple moves to bring the town together.
It does not make sense to have this divide in Longridget #LDreporter

There are questions about whether there are three levels of councils. Jess Gibbons confirms town and parish councils will remain #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Mark Earthey says this is a unique community, there are single bodies that do not distinguish between the two sides of Saltdean. Since becoming a councillor he has struggled with two sets of bureaucracy for external funding. #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr John Hewitt leads on devolution, engagement is critical for the submission to government. #Brighton & #Hove cannot engage outside it's borders but is holding events close to the boarders. Engagement in February prefered merging with the east #LDreporter

Cllr Hewitt says people outside the city can respond to the consultation on the council's Your Voice website #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

yourvoice.brighton-hove.gov.uk/en-GB/projects…

Q&A Michael Marks recent arrival, horrified war left and right. The meeting is getting heckled Telscombe had one resident in the meeting. I think peope here feel Saltdean should be one (a mix of cheers and boos) #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Wendy Beck from Peacehaven is broadly in favour but not further east. Have you tried to travel into #Brighton on the A259. Housing stock, residents are moving from tower blocks. Over 18s not rehoused. the stock is a disgrace. Where will thoe people be housed? #LDreporter

Cllr Watts from Telscombe askes why not go west and take on Adur #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Merging west was considered says Cllr Hewitt, those proposals would not be financially viable according to the government tests. West Sussex found the same and is canvassing three models #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Sankey says #Brighton & #Hove has large council housing stock and is building more. On the 8 LPS blocks. They are not fit for the future, 60s build are not up to current standards. All those blocks will be redeveloped to build in community #LDreporter

Everyone with a secure tenancy will keep that and all will have the right to return says Cllr Sankey.

On council tax, the consultation is not looking at that. #Brighton & #Hove has a council tax reduction scheme. She is aware of the traffic issues on the A259 #Ldreporter

Cllr Sankey is working with MP Chris ward and will work with the new strategic authority which will have responsibiliy for planning transport. This new authority will need to look at this to fix it #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

A woman has said transport will come under the new combined authority, we could still be under East Sussex and have a combined system. Of course East Sussex won't exist as it is now though #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Jess Gibbons says road maintenance will remain under the unitary authorities and the strategic mayoral authority will introduced new transport infrastructure #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Kingston is in the National Park and is rural which #Brighton & #Hove has not experience of this. Key services are in East Sussex and moving into #Brighton won't help. South Downs National Park is the planning authority. What woul dbe the benefit to Kingston Residents

Peacehaven resident likes the reorganisation which will look to improve services. He has been through 3 reorganisations in his life.
What is the option if #Brighton & #Hove's is not achieve. Will the city join with East or West Sussex? #LDreporter

With the new Mayoral authority what responsibilies will you lose? #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Sankey says the new strategic authority power come from central government down as well as money. Devoled areas attract more private investment to engage with business and drive investment #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

On Kingston, Cllr Sankey has met with parish councillors. She needs to understand what Kingston is looking for. #Brighton & #Hove has a lot of the National Park in the city boundary. The City Council owns more farmland than East and West Sussex put together. #LDreporter

The councils of East Sussex will not exist in the future. People need to consider what will serve their community better. The status quo is not an option East Sussex is looking at a unitary of 500k people, a huge challenge #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Closeness to your community is important. As council leader Cllr Sankey feels she should know and be responsive. #LDreproter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Hewitt says 500K was the original figure, but the government has confirmed it is not a hard target, but 300K plus is viable #Brighton & #Hove has 280K it would not be considered viable If the city does not submit a viable proposal then it would let residents odwn #LDreporter

The government has given #Brighton and #Hove no choice on remaining the same says Jess Gibbons
John Harris from East Saltdean says there are benefits to devolution, what we don't want to become part of Brighton & Hove. Would the panel accept a show of hands on what people want

Martin Cross from Newhaven asks will the changes give local democracy to people.

A Newhaven town councillor says East is more viable and unlocking Newhaven port. Why doesn't Shoreham tick the same box?

600 people responded,the research methods?#LDreporter

Cllr Sankey says there are communities anywhere that feel underserved or let down. People in Telscombe and Peavehaven feel this way as does Newhaven, the same in #Brighton & #Hove. You can see some places do not have the same investment #LDreporer

On Newhaven the analysis will be provided on why it doesn't make sense on merging west. The authority is in exceptional measures. Proposals need to be fair says Cllr Sankey. Shoreham Port is partly in the city council area. Cities drive economic growth #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Newhaven has digital businesses moving there. Cllr Sankey says she is in this job because she wants to improve things for those who feel left behind #LDreporer #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Hewitt says the interim response was asked for in January with a deadline for the end of March. The city was the only council to carry out a 2 week survey. Paper results were published online and were released with March cabinet papers. #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Dawn from East #Saltdean the problem is selling being part of # Brighton & #Hove. We fear rubbish and recycling collections. East Saltdean people are astronished by the problems. If you can't run refuse and recycling what gives us any hope you can improve our lives? #LDreporter

Cheryl Wood from Peacehaven says council tax is higher then in #Brighton & #Hove will residents be aware their council tx will go up? Will we see a two-teir council? #LDreporter

An East Saltdean residents wants to know when the people will be asked what they want up front? We want to be part of the decision making process and we're not. We're being told what to put up with #LDreporter #Brighotn #Hove

Cllr Sankey Lewes District pays among the highest council tax in #Sussex. if areas merge with different rates, the higher rate will have it frozen until the lower rate catches up. #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

As people laugh and are outraged, Jess Gibbons confirms this is what happened in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole #LDreproter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Sankey says she does want to listen. Devolution was in the Labour manifesto. She believes in devolution. This is happening because there is a political mandate. The reality is the government has set a task, it's not the first time local government is reorganised #LDreporter

On bins and waste Cllr Sankey will take on the chin. It's not where it should be. One of the first things she did was start root and branch reform of the disfunctional service. The council is moving to make the service where it should be #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

There is outstanding children's service. There are no agency social workers. Doing better on EHCP, real examples of excellence in #Brighton & #Hove all local government has been massively under funded for 15-16 years, with cities hit worse because of high needs says Cllr Sankey

Secretary of the Saltdean Residents Association, will the various communities have their responses differently represented?

Another buying properties for #Brighton & #Hove would you buy in this area, will you not fill with illegal immigrants? #LDreporter

James Harrison Newhaven Town Council all four options include bringing into Saltdean, Peacehaven is this a done deal? #LDreproter #Brighton #Hove

Where residents live will be noted on #Brighton & #Hove's survey but he can't comment on Lewes says Cllr Hewitt
All submissions to government will include bringing in Saltdean, etc
#LDreporter

There is no done deal says Jess Gibbons. All the submissions will go to government on September 26 20205 #Ldreporter

East Sussex has submitted it wants to have a single authority #LDreporter

Cllr Sankey is not sure if East Sussex's proposal will work with what the government wants #LDreporter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Sankey is proud of the funding on council housing stock. Buying back will continue. She does not think the amount of stock has gone is right . #Brighton & #Hove supports asylum seekers it is the right thing to do. #LDreporter

Is this a real consultation? There is limited time and not sufficient consultation.

Peacehaven resident - why not bring in Shoreham as far as the airpot? How deliver access to the A27? Will we be able to access GPs surgery in Saltdean? #LDreporter

Andy Newhaven resident, if you can get 300K with Saltdean and Peacehaven, why add Kingston and Newhaven?
Newhaven catchment we can go to Lewes Prioriy and Seaford Head, this would close education options #LDreproter #Brighton #Hove

Cllr Sankey says school catchments are based on crow flies, Woodingdean children attend Lewes Priory. There is not anything in these proposals that would impact on schools. #Brighton & #Hove has worked hard to keep schools in the LA system #LDreporter

West expansion is not part of the proposals as it is not sustainable after discussing with West Sussex councils.

#Brighton & #Hove builds active travel infrastructure but understands not all decisions made are popular.

Cllr Sankey says health services are separate

Local government reorganisation may come as a surprise. East Sussex people did not seem to know, Cllr Sankey does not know how the response was. She believes its important to engage and inform people. #Brithton & #Hove is doing what it can with the time available #LDreproter

#Brighton & #Hove is looking to borrow hundreds of millions, comment on i360. You'll be taking our money and uniting it with yours, rather than a cultural affinity with #Brighton, the affinity is west #LDreporter

Every community has unique identities, Portslade, Rottingdean, North Laine. Cllr Sankey does not believe communities are so different. There are no plans to change town and parish councils. Cllr Sankey grew up in North Laine but friends everywhere #LDreporter

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