What happens next now that Brighton and Hove City Council has decided to freeze council tax for the coming financial year?
First, the council tax bills are due to be printed today and will be sent out in the coming weeks.
The council’s new financial year starts on Friday 1 April.
Like the council, Sussex Police Authority and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Authority have frozen the precept that they levy and which is included in the total payable on council tax bills.
Just over a month later – on Thursday 5 May – voters in Brighton and Hove will deliver their verdict at the polls when they choose 54 councillors to serve for the next four years.
Many suspect that national political trends strongly influence local election results.
But in Brighton and Hove one of the showcase budget measures – the cycle lane proposal – earned national news headlines.
Along with the proposed cuts in council tax and resident parking permits, the policy will make a talking point on the doorsteps for all the main parties.
And whatever the national picture, the presence of the Greens means that the local political landscape has an added dimension.
Across the city there will be many closely fought contests featuring individuals who have the advantage of the incumbent or the energetic zeal of the new challenger.
Some will triumph because of their political hue in a safe seat but others will win as a result of charisma, dynamism or sheer hard work on the ground.
And despite the budget savings made so far, more spending cuts look likely whoever emerges on top.
The budget may have been put to bed for now but the wider debate will continue.
Just remember which Party was in power that got us into this mess in the first place.
Remember which Party borrowed money during the good times, spent it nothing apart from ‘non jobs’ in a bid to bolster their portion of the vote.
Remember who now has to pick up the pieces, sort out the mess and get this country back into a good financial shape.
I’ve hear NO apologies from the last administration for their appalling, if not criminal, miss management of the national economy.
All I’ve head is their winging about what must now be done for fix their errors.
Reality check: until September 2008 the Conservatives were pledged to match Labour’s spending plans. Then the global financial crisis hit, and the government had to bail out the banks.
This is what caused the problem. True, Labour should have regulated the banks better, but the Conservatives – who get half their funding from the financial industry – would have been even more hands-off.
The Conservative-led government is now doing its best to choke off a recovery by these deep cuts, and the wider uncertainty that they create.
I am not a Labour party member but I am sick of seeing these incoherent rants – sorry, but it’s true – go unchallenged.
But they DID NOT continue the spending plans.. And when the extent of the mismanagement became apparent they opposed the continued borrowing and spending and urged the then Government to cut back.
There is a golden rule with public finance. Don’t borrow during the good time – borrow during the bad when your tax receipt are low.
Boom-and-bust Brown was supposed to be the financial wizard of Europe – he turned out to be a clown.
As far as I can see Labour haven’t changed. When they can sort out a balanced fare budget they may get back into power.
Remember the old saying ‘Its the Economy Stupid’ (And no I’m not referring to you you – its an old saying)
You are quite right, it is ‘the economy, stupid’. But your prescription is impossibly rigid – you’ll be advocating going back on the gold standard next!
If the Tories thought the government’s rate of spending pre-2008 was so extravagant then they could, would and should have opposed it. They didn’t, which speaks volumes.
Nowt to do with the economy and everything to do with the tories cosy relationship with big business and the banks – check private eye for more details (any issue will do!).