Brighton & Hove City Council is asking for feedback from residents, businesses and partners to help shape the city’s Cost of Living action plan, which the council hopes will help make Brighton & Hove a “fairer and more inclusive city where everyone can thrive”.
In its new plan, the council has pledged to “do everything in its power to reduce inequality and tackle poverty in the city, an issue exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis”.
The draft Brighton & Hove Cost of Living plan – available to read HERE – sets out the council’s initial approach to supporting the city. The Cost of Living plan is aimed as a call to action to all partners to work with the council, to bring their ideas, expertise and combined resources to collectively meet the challenge.
The council is asking to hear ideas, feedback or offers of support through a short cost of living plan online survey, linked from the draft plan webpages HERE.
The survey is open until 31 October 2023.
All views will be fed into the council’s work with partners to finalise the plan. The plan will be discussed at the council’s Strategy, Finance and City Regeneration Committee later in the year for final approval.
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “It was one of our key pledges in our first 100 days to develop a plan to look at all our options to support the city through the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“We’ve already taken action in our first 100 days by boosting fostering allowances, slashing planned parking hikes, purchasing 38 brand new social homes at affordable rents and delivering a 24% increase in the school holiday activities programme.
“But we are all too aware of the ongoing financial hardship for residents and businesses in the city and so now we want to hear from you.
“The publication of our draft plan marks the start of our conversation, and we’re very keen to hear from anyone with ideas to help us develop our approach. Please do share any ideas or feedback you have on the plan.”
Residents can find information and advice on the support with the cost of living HERE.
The includes information on emergency help and money advice, information about eligibility for discounts on energy bills, and advice and about saving energy and keeping homes warm, alongside health and wellbeing support.