Labour said that it wanted to freeze parking charges for 12 months, keep all children’s centre services running for another year and maintain funding for voluntary groups in Brighton and Hove.
The party has submitted amendments to the Brighton and Hove City Council budget in support of its proposal to put up council tax by 1.9 per cent.
The Greens want council tax to rise by 5.9 per cent from Wednesday 1 April while the Conservatives are proposing that the level of council tax should be frozen.
Labour said: “Labour on the city council are challenging the Greens and Tories to put politics aside and unite around a budget that is best for Brighton and Hove.”
Councillor Warren Morgan, the leader of the Labour group, said: “Our proposals would set the council tax at a 1.9 per cent increase that people can afford, freeze all parking charges for 12 months, keep all children’s centre services running for another year and maintain funding for voluntary groups.
“I am urging the Greens and Tories to back this positive compromise to give the new council elected in May, and the services residents rely on, a fighting chance.”
Labour’s proposals would also scrap the Greens’ “One Planet Living” team and use the funding to keep public toilets open.
Money would be taken from the communications budget to support the mayor’s community and charity work, currently under threat.
Councillor Morgan said: “The Green referendum proposal and the Tory freeze plan would each mean a loss of another £1 million from council services, which we think is better spent in the community on things residents need.
“Voters can elect a new council in May but for now we should put the city first.”
Labour proposes restoring all the money being cut from women’s refuge funding, half of the money being cut from Able and Willing, the council’s design and print service which employs people with learning disabilities, and a small grant to back the Pride parade.
The budget and council tax are due to be agreed at a meeting at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (26 February). It is scheduled to start at 4.30pm and is open to the public.
Councillor Morgan can be seen discussing the budget with the Conservative group leader, Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, on The Vote on Latest TV at 8pm tomorrow (Wednesday 25 February).
What a pity we cannot return to the ‘spend a penny’ days of public toilets. Well we can’t because all the pennies would get nicked without any question, equipment vandalised like phone boxes.
In larger areas where a turnstile can be put in at the entrance, we COULD have a paying service to defray costs. Offer enough services and they could even be profitable!