Title

FINANCE

Brighton's finances in 'perilous position'

Brighton & Hove City Council’s finances are in an ‘extremely perilous position’, the local authority’s leader has warned.

Brighton & Hove City Council's finances are in an ‘extremely perilous position', the local authority's leader has warned.

Cllr Bella Sankey said the council was facing a budget gap of £31m next year and would have to find millions in savings.

She added that while many councils have been forced to issue section 114 notices – effectively declaring bankruptcy – Brighton & Hove CC were not in that position yet.

Cllr Sankey said: ‘The council's finances are in an extremely perilous position.

‘There was absolutely nothing in the Autumn Statement to provide relief for this council or local authorities who have faced a decade of heartless central government austerity or any real-world financial help for struggling families.'

‘While we await the final detail on the local government settlement, we will almost certainly have to find millions more savings next year than planned because the government has chosen to ignore the crisis in local government funding,' she added.

FINANCE

New politics, new tensions

By Rob Whiteman | 02 September 2025

As Reform UK gathers this week for its annual conference, Rob Whiteman argues that with the party gaining control of some councils, local government must sup...

FINANCE

How to afford a green future

By Martin Reeves | 29 August 2025

Oxfordshire CC is leading the way on how councils can finance climate action and help save the planet. Martin Reeves explains.

FINANCE

Propelling MOs into strategic leadership

By Aftab Razzaq | 28 August 2025

As many councils navigate through reorganisation and devolution, monitoring officers should throw off the narrowed perception of their role and instinctively...

FINANCE

We need to see transparency return on council funding

By Ian Miller | 28 August 2025

Ian Miller says recent developments in local government finance are alarmingly opaque and councils deserve clarity, especially on new burdens like food waste...

Popular articles by William Eichler