Brighton And Hove City Council
Powers And Functions
Central Government retains control of certain matters. It regulates building in the city through the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which provides for the conservation of buildings listed or in a conservation area. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government also has power, through the National Planning Policy Framework to grant over-riding regional planning permission to specify appropriate standards and use in conservation areas. The maintenance oflisted buildings, including their repair and alteration, is strictly regulated.
Listed status applies to about 14% of Brighton's buildings, Brighton Town Press (brightontownpress.co.uk). A wide range of powers are exercised by the council. As well as those powers and functions conferred directly by legislation, there is an ability to undertake certain activities within the law relating to public health, transport and town planning in order to meet social and environmental needs. The council has a general power of competence, enabling it to carry out any activity which is not prohibited, prescribed or restricted by legislation.
Councillors And Wards
After the elections in 2002, there was some doubt as to whether the council would continue to exist. The Boundaries Commission was required to review the boundaries for all councils in England and Wales as well as the House of Commons constituencies, and some councillors voiced fears that Brighton and Hove could be abolished itself. These fears were not realised when new wards were proposed in 2004, though two extra councillors had been added. The forty-five councillors of Brighton and Hove City Council are elected in eight wards.
A councillor is elected to represent each ward for a four-year term. The council has been under no overall control since the 2000 election, with Labour or the Conservatives taking the most seats three times each. 2269 residents served as election officers, assisted by 2,400 postal voters. The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Brighton and Hove is within a non-metropolitan area of England.
