Council asks residents: 'How can we keep our services going?'

A prize fund has been created for residents to come up with innovative ideas on how to keep council services going in the face of funding cuts.

Warren Morgan, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, made the announcement last night (Thursday), and said the City Innovation Challenge 2016 is a competition to drive new ideas and solutions for council services.

He said: 'As part of our budget process, I'm launching a competition to bring in new ideas, innovation, and solutions to the funding challenges we face. I'm looking for new ways to run services, keeping them going as our funding reduces. I'm looking for bold and creative suggestions as to how the city council can bring in new revenue to fund services and invest in our city and its communities.

'How can we keep our parks clean and well maintained? How can we meet the rising demand in social care? How can we provide the services we all use but which the council no longer has the funding to provide? How can neighbourhoods, local companies, community organisations and others get involved in the future of local services?

'It might be a co-operative, a resident-led group, sponsorship, a new partnership between local organisations, new business initiatives or a volunteer scheme. Or something no-one has thought of yet. We are investing £6 million in digital customer services that will bring the council and residents closer. But we need to go further.

'I know that there is the talent, imagination and innovation in this city to overcome the challenges we face and find new ways of making Brighton and Hove better.'

He said there would be five prizes of £1,000 each. The competition will open on January 4 for one month. Awards will be funded by sponsorship. Find out more about the competition at brighton-hove.gov.uk