A union representative has slammed a council leader after he “refused to listen” during a discussion on how to save more than £20 million.

Mark Turner, of the GMB, was one of three union representatives invited to talk to Brighton and Hove City Council at an open meeting about its forthcoming budget.

But after claiming he kept being cut off by council leader Jason Kitcat, Mr Turner refused to speak for the remaining of the discussion in Hove Town Hall on Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Turner said: “Coun Kitcat kept on trying to push things along and ask us how the council was going to find the money.

“If I knew that then I would be running the council. As far as I was concerned there was no time limit for the meeting.

“There are some very important issues for our members and the wider public within the proposals which I think have not been looked at.”

In response, Coun Kitcat said Mr Turner had agreed to meet finance spokesmen from each party to discuss his areas of concern in more detail.

A final decision on the budget will take place in February at a meeting of all 54 councillors.