INNOVATIVE new ways of delivering tourism are needed to safeguard the industry’s success, the new council leader has warned.

Tourism is key to Brighton and Hove’s future, city council leader Warren Morgan told The Argus.

But with funding cuts of around £25 million a year, new ways of funding and delivering services are needed, he added.

The Labour leader backed the work of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), which is proposing a new not-for-profit company at arm’s length from the council to replace council-run membership group VisitBrighton.

Coun Morgan said: “Tourism is key to Brighton and Hove’s success and, with funding reducing, we need to find innovative ways of continuing to deliver tourism services to welcome the millions of visitors that come every year.

“We’ll be working in partnership with the TAB to ensure expertise from across the sector, including the council’s own VisitBrighton, informs how we model services and we’ll be looking at different options in detail before making recommendations to the Economic Development and Culture Committee.”

Some of the seafront’s infrastructure such as the Victorian Arches is in desperate need of repair or replacement at an estimated cost of £100 million.

Labour backed the council’s Seafront Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel Review, completed in 2014, which recommends collaboration between the council and all services and businesses involved in the seafront to make the most of investment and development opportunities.

The Seafront Investment Programme will report in the autumn on urgent work, maintenance and improvements.

Mr Morgan added: “As reductions in council funding continue at around £25 million each year, we will have to look at new ways of funding and different ways of delivering many services. Anything that moves out of the council needs to be locally and democratically accountable, as well as delivering what the city and our economy needs.”

Last week the Tourism Advisory Board discussed options for visitor services and destination marketing. The board endorsed continuing workand analysis on options potentially leading to outsourcing. Members expressed concern over the Madeira Drive arches and urged the council to think of innovative solutions.