Brighton & Hove City Council is developing new ways of working with communities to make this a more democratic city, leading the way as a place to live and work.

Neighbourhoods will be offered greater power to make decisions about services and budgets, addressing issues relevant to them. Arrangements may vary from place to place, but there will be opportunities for all to participate in decision-making. The intention is that these changes will allow people to:

• be more involved in their local area and identify opportunities for community action
• raise issues that need addressing and help develop local solutions
• be actively involved in the decisions that are taken about their area
• be empowered to develop local services and groups

The plans fit into the Localism Act (2011), which sets out a series of proposals that are intended to shift power away from central government, towards local people. City-wide consultation took place between November 2011 and January 2012. A pilot area will be launched for a year in April 2012, after communities were asked to put forward ‘expressions of interest’ in being a pilot area.

During the consultation and pilot period the council will look at the legal and financial implications and will feedback to communities and organisations around potential challenges and opportunities.