Latest News: Jason Kitcat

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on working together­

The shift of power away from Westminster to our local areas is looking more likely than it has in a generation. Groups like Core Cities (the biggest nine cities in the UK) and Key Cities (the 25 mid-sized cities) are making big progress in shifting the debate after the shockwave that was the Scottish independence referendum. All parties are racing into the general election competing hard to offer the most in terms of devolution.
The speed at which this may happen is astonishing. Greater Manchester, after a decade of slow but strong progress, has suddenly in four months won major new powers and £6 billion of NHS funding devolved locally. Bringing together in this way both council social care and NHS services is clearly the way to survive the growing demands of an ageing population.

As one of the most centralised countries in the world, this slight loosening of the reigns by Whitehall is very welcome, if long overdue. To make the most of these opportunities in Greater Brighton (which covers Adur, Worthing, Mid-Sussex, Lewes, Brighton & Hove), we need to start work now, and we have.
I was delighted when the Greater Brighton City Deal with government was formally signed early last year. It was the conclusion of almost a year’s hard work and unlocked tens of millions of funding for vital projects across the city region. Business space, flood defences and ultrafast broadband were some of the many key projects which benefited.

Since that deal was signed council, education and business leaders have been working together on the Greater Brighton Economic Board to deliver the investments promised. We can see the huge potential this way of working has to improve the quality of life, transport and economy for our citizens. It’s been a big, positive change in how we work together.