Calls for Brighton and Hove to ‘immediately desist’ placing homeless people in Eastbourne

On Wednesday (February 24), Eastbourne Borough Council voted unanimously backed a motion calling on the city council to review its policy of moving its homeless residents to the town and to use government funding to find alternative accommodation in Brighton instead.

The call comes amid a row between the two councils around Brighton and Hove’s use of Eastbourne hotels as emergency accommodation.

Introducing the motion, Liberal Democrat cabinet member Alan Shuttleworth said: “It is truly shocking that Brighton council have refused to recognise their duty to find accommodation in Brighton for people they have a responsibility to assist.

“Brighton has been given £6.4m to deal with their homeless placements and next steps accommodation. That is amongst the highest awards outside of London. Eastbourne received an initial £330,000 as part of an award across the other East Sussex authorities.

“Brighton have been given the finance to manage the problem, the city of Brighton has the necessary accommodation. There is no excuse for a policy that sends people out of their home area; out of sight, out of mind.

“There is a human consequence to this derogation of duty. Many of the people who have been moved away from their local community and support networks have multiple and complex needs. 

“Tragically 11 people moved out of the area by Brighton have died. Three in Eastbourne, eight in Newhaven.”

The motion had cross-party support, being seconded by Conservative councillor Penny DiCara, who said Eastbourne should present a ‘united front’.

The motion was also supported by the town’s MP Caroline Ansell, who is also a Conservative borough councillor. She said: “There is no lack of commitment or compassion in our town to reach out and support vulnerable people. 

“But we believe that there are vulnerable people based in Brighton, best served in Brighton. Brighton which has city-sized services. Brighton where they have contacts and support systems.”

Cllr Ansell went on to say that the council should go beyond the motion and write to Brighton and Hove City Council asking it to ‘immediately desist’ from making any new placements in the town and put in place plans to bring its residents back to the city. This proposal was accepted by Cllr Shuttleworth and Cllr DiCara. 

As the debate went on council leader David Tutt said he had contacted Phelim Mac Cafferty, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, requesting to speak with him about the town’s concerns. He said he had not received a phone call. 

He also said Brighton and Hove City Council had not informed Eastbourne officials of its placements in the town, with the matter only coming to light after concerns were raised by business groups.

Cllr Tutt said: “The statement is that they can’t find accommodation in their own city. Our officers have found accommodation in Brighton and Hove and we can show them exactly where that accommodation is.

“So it is a falsehood to  suggest that they can’t cope within their own boundaries.”

He added: “What Brighton and Hove have done is neglect their responsibilities, the responsibilities they have been given £6.5m of government money to address. 

“They’ve moved those people, those vulnerable people, away from their friends and away from their social networks.”

Councillors heard from some of these business groups before the debate began.

In a joint letter, Chrstina Ewbank and Nick Fisher of Eastbourne unLtd,  the town’s chamber of commerce, said: “Be under no illusion, the threat to Eastbourne posed by this anti-social behaviour, coupled with the pandemic and ensuing economic crisis is greater than at any other time since WWll. 

“We cannot stress enough the damage this policy is doing to our residents, to jobs and to the local economy. This is clearly unfair to the people removed from Brighton and is unacceptable to the business community in Eastbourne.”

Cllr Tutt’s assertion that Eastbourne Borough Council had not been informed of the placements contradicts previous statements by Brighton and Hove. 

In response to previous requests about the motion, a spokesperson for the city council said: “We have provided accommodation for approximately 400 additional people at any one time, and that capacity is not within the city. We are also working with all households in emergency accommodation on their move-on plans.

“Given the numbers of people this is not an easy task, and it will take some time to resolve. A lot of larger councils are facing the same challenges and must place homeless households in other areas.

“This is common, and we notify those councils when a placement is made in their area as we are legally required to do. We are having ongoing discussions with the local authorities where we have placed the most people.

“We are moving people back to the city as soon as we can. But due to on-going demands, rooms are being re-filled.

“We have weekly meetings set up with on-site security and Eastbourne police are invited. They have said any issues have been minor.

“Our welfare officers are also providing weekly on-site support at hotels where it is Covid-safe to do so.

“We are exploring other accommodation opportunities within Brighton and Hove. We hope to be in a position to provide additional accommodation within the city in the next few weeks, which will relieve pressure on Eastbourne.”