With proposed fortnightly bin collections and weather–dependent parking prices, Brighton and Hove could look very different after the elections.

The Conservative group has caught the eye with bold proposals marking out their vision for a leaner, smaller council but not everyone is convinced.

GMB branch secretary Mark Turner described proposals to turn Cityclean into a John Lewis style mutual as a “gimmick” and “privatisation by the back door”.

He said private firms were leaving the domestic waste sector because it was not-profitable.

He added: “If the Tories think this will solve the recent industrial relations, they should remember it will still be the same staff and the same management.”

Mr Turner also did not hold out much hope for the Green proposals to improve recycling rates, describing the possibility of fortnightly refuse collections as “behind the curve” of other authorities as they ditch bi-weekly collections.

He said only educating, promoting and enforcing with fines would improve recycling rates.

He added: “Moving to fortnightly will not encourage recycling, it will encourage fly-tipping.”

The Conservatives this week unveiled bold transport proposals clearly designed to wow the motoring vote. And they are not worried about ruffling feathers by raising the prospect of a Competition Commission investigation if they do not see increased competition in bus services.

Martin Harris, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company, said: “We do not condone any anti-competitive practices and any suggestion that we operate in such a way is groundless.” Other Clarkson-friendly proposals in their manifesto include the removal of street clutter and speed bumps at residents’ requests – moves that have drawn criticism from opposition councillors.

Labour councillor Gill Mitchell, the party’s transport spokeswoman, said: “We can’t afford to use limited transport budgets for making roads less safe by removing traffic calming measures.”

Coun Mitchell said the Tory proposal for cheaper parking on “rainy summer days” was “nutty” while her Green counterpart Ian Davey said it was “a recipe for confusion and uncertainty”.

Both Green and Labour manifestos include a radical shake-up of private sector housing which will cheer residents.

Many of the Greens’ proposals will all require assistance from Whitehall.

They include campaigning for new taxes discouraging property speculators converting family homes into HMOs, curbing overseas property speculators and a national landlord register. Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, Conservative group leader, said: “None of this can happen without changes to national law, they are wasting their time.”

Council leader Jason Kitcat described the Conservative pledge to cancel the £10 million Hove Town Hall refurbishment as “an empty and absurd gesture”.

Labour’s manifesto was seen as more “cautious” than their rivals, according to Mr Turner. Their leader Warren Morgan conceded his party intended the manifesto to be “simple, short and readable”.

Coun Theobald, in more blunter terms, said Labour’s contract took five minutes to read and was “full of empty rhetoric”.

He said: “Labour literally has nothing to offer the residents of Brighton and Hove.”

All three main parties will consider themselves in with a chance of becoming the dominant party after May’s election.

But it seems unlikely that there will be a big enough breakthrough to break the current stalemate of 20 Green councillors, 18 Conservative and 13 Labour members. Without an overall majority, whatever grand designs the parties draw up to entice voters will be much more difficult to make a reality and a repeat of recent budget stalemates seems likely.

Some would argue any party gaining control will be accepting a poisoned chalice as the council will have a funding gap in excess of £100 million by the end of the next term.

The Greens will have only nine councillors from their class of 2011 standing again in May but will be hoping for a surge from young voters as it coincides with the general election. The youth vote will surely be looking for a new home this time around if youngster have become disillusioned with the Liberal Democrats.

As for Labour, they too will be hopeful of making gains off the back of greater interest in the general election, where they are strong favourites to reclaim at least two city MP seats. The Conservatives will be hoping to be seen as the steady hands to cope with the upcoming financial storm.

It will be all to play for come May 7 and the city’s main parties present three distinct visions of what Brighton and Hove could be.

Readers snap up seats for debate

THE Argus debates have captured the imagination of our readers already with lots of free tickets being snapped up on the first day of our announcement.

On Tuesday, April 7 from 7pm at The Thistle Brighton Hotel, five parliamentary candidates from the five main parties will try to convince you, the reader, that they are the right person to send to Westminster. Then on Thursday, April 23, at the same time and location, our focus will turn to the council elections which are likely to be as close as the battle in many Sussex constituencies and across the country.

To book your ticket before they all go visit theargus.co.uk/debate2015