2% council tax rise will save services, say Brighton Greens (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
2% council tax rise will save services, say Brighton Greens
1:00pm Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Previous cuts by Brighton and Hove City Council have resulted in protests
A council tax rise of 2% is set to form the cornerstone of a town hall budget with more than £20 million of cuts.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green administration claimed the increase, the maximum allowed without it having to hold a city-wide referendum, would help it protect essential services for residents.
As part of the plans for the 2013/14 financial year, about 160 posts will go as it looks to combat the Government’s austerity drive.
The spending plans were revealed yesterday (November 27) at the council’s Kings House offices.
Three months of consultation will follow before the plans are decided on at a meeting of all 54 councillors in February.
Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “These budget proposals represent our commitment to protecting the city’s essential services for residents.
“Our focus now is to ensure all services are run as efficiently as possible.”
Proposed cuts
Finance chiefs added that the local authority still had to find at least another £1.9 million – with more possibly to come when the Chancellor reveals his Autumn Statement on December 5.
Among those services remaining open in current plans are children’s centres and branch libraries.
There would be no changes to eligibility for social care, funding to community groups and homelessness would be preserved, and carbon emissions would be reduced.
Money is also allocated to maintain council tax benefits for the poorest and to administer the retention of business rates.
However annual funding will be cut to Pride, cricket clubs and the award-winning music service, despite similar plans last year sparking a mass campaign. Children’s and adult services will be forced to bear the brunt of the cuts.
Job losses
Union leaders said they feared the total number of job losses would be nearer 250.
Alex Knutsen, of Unison, said: “Staff are already being extremely efficient. Our worry is these departments will be asked to find more savings which will damage how services are delivered to the public.”
But Conservative councillor Geoffrey Theobald said it was “hardly austerity” when the council’s current gross budget was about the same level as three years ago.
He said: “The Greens should be looking at root and branch restructure of the organisation – in particular stripping out layers of middle management where we still have far too many.”
Labour councillor Les Hamilton said: “While the Tory-led Government continues to impose cuts to council budgets, the Green administration running the council shows little regard for limited public finances and continues to recklessly spend money on its pet projects.”
For an in-depth look at the proposed cuts read The Argus tomorrow (November 29)
What it means
Central to the administration’s plans is a 2% council tax increase – about 43p per week for a Band D household.
The Greens had been planning a 3.5% rise.
However, the Government’s announcement of a 2% cap meant an increase above this would require a city-wide referendum costing up to £500,000.
Coun Kitcat told The Argus a vote was “not a viable option”, adding: “With the challenging economic climate we do recognise any tax increases are difficult.”
The Conservative group said it would be looking to freeze council tax for 2013/14 in return for a Government grant equivalent to a 1% increase.
However, this would mean it needs to find an extra £1 million of savings.
The Labour group said it would make a decision on council tax after it had the full financial picture next month.
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
- Albion players cleared of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman
- Your say: Are the Greens fit to run Brighton and Hove City Council?
- Brighton and Hove council boss apologises for rubbish problems
- Designs for life - designs students create products for the future
- Still time to join the Ribbonwalk at Petworth House
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(41)
Phani Tikkala
says...
1:53pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Providing cycle lanes and trying to dissuade car drivers from driving into town and/or parking is hardly going to help the local economy. If they still want to spend money on non-essential/non-in
come producing services, why don't they delay them until after the next council elections and run their campaign with those things in their manifesto?
Brian62
says...
2:22pm Wed 28 Nov 12
But of course they won't as the Green Party don't care what we think.
leobrighton
says...
2:32pm Wed 28 Nov 12
wexler53
says...
2:49pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Since the Greens think running the city is a "lark", they should be booted out of office, let alone get a 2% increase in our hard earned money to fund their "larking about". Chris Hawtree should resign now, closely followed by the rest.
Referring to running the city as a "lark" is the same as plebgate in my view.
Andyman26
says...
2:52pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Martha Gunn
says...
2:56pm Wed 28 Nov 12
We all know about how precise Cllr. Hawtree is about the use of language. So what precisely is a 'lark'?
1. an amusing adventure or escapade
2. an activity regarded as foolish or a waste of time
OED
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
3:14pm Wed 28 Nov 12
bug eye
says...
3:27pm Wed 28 Nov 12
PJW Brighton
says...
3:32pm Wed 28 Nov 12
stamponcockroaches wrote:Your mistake here is to confuse the 'barking mad stories' you read in the Argus with reality. Has it never occurred to you that your local paper might have an agenda to pursue?
I would like to see an emergency vote of no confidence in this admin.. they are a laughing stock, week after week another barking mad story from yet another different green councillor, this week the pink bike, they're not fit to be running B & H
martyt
says...
3:49pm Wed 28 Nov 12
martyt
says...
3:52pm Wed 28 Nov 12
bug eye wrote:voters did get a choice and look what they put in !
I would agree to higher council tax so long as we get a say on how it is spent. Improving pavements, lighting, planting and keeping the whole city clean and litter free. I do not agree to more cycle lanes, bus lanes, ridiculous road schemes and more traffic lights, or paying for the homeless that no connection to the city or cleaning up after and hosting travellers sites. My rubbish and recycling have not been collected again, probably because this is Hove, start getting rid of the dead wood of the council offices, I can immediately think of most of the highways, city clean, planning staff and all Green councillors. This city needs to be run by business, let the chamber of commerce have a go..
mnairb
says...
3:57pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Fairfax Sakes
says...
4:14pm Wed 28 Nov 12
s_james
says...
4:26pm Wed 28 Nov 12
localboy78
says...
4:37pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Or, make 'Brighton & Hove' a district (like Lewes, Adur etc) of East Sussex and hand back the higher functions to ESCC.
Or, abolish ALL district councils within East and West Sussex, and create a unitary authority for the whole of Sussex (i.e. Sussex County Council) like what they did with Cornwall, Isle of Wight, Cheshire etc....
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit
says...
4:44pm Wed 28 Nov 12
s_james wrote:Sensible post. No place for that here!
All councils across the country are facing the same difficult decisions. The Greens are dealing with a difficult situation perfectly competently. Any frustration should be directed at central government.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
5:15pm Wed 28 Nov 12
r, only this council is continuing with unnecessary vanity projects and then asking its hard-up residents for more money while strangling its golden revenue stream of parking leaving it with a £700,000 shortfall.
So Greens, you gambled away almost a million quid and now you want me to put more money in your piggy bank.
Have you worked out why there is such a groundswell of anger towards you?
Lady Smith
says...
5:25pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:Correct. And look what's happening in places like Newcastle: 10 libraries being closed, never to re-open. The root problem lies with the ConDems' continued - and to be continued - assault on the public sector and its services and workers. A vote against small a council tax increase (about 50p a week, FFS!) is a vote for service cuts. End of.
s_james wrote:Sensible post. No place for that here!
All councils across the country are facing the same difficult decisions. The Greens are dealing with a difficult situation perfectly competently. Any frustration should be directed at central government.
george smith
says...
7:25pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Fercri Sakes
says...
7:46pm Wed 28 Nov 12
s_james wrote:No! Even though the super rich and corporations pay no tax, and therefore are damaging the very foundations of this country, I'm going to blindly blame the local Green council for all of this anyway.
All councils across the country are facing the same difficult decisions. The Greens are dealing with a difficult situation perfectly competently. Any frustration should be directed at central government.
(just trying to fit in here)
fred clause
says...
9:00pm Wed 28 Nov 12
s_james wrote:None of the other councils are as pigheaded and stupid as the greens,everytime someone suggests something to help Brighton and Hove get back on its feet they cry no as it goea against their silly grern ideals they wont be hapoy til we are one big bloody cycle lane. The sooner there voted out the better.
All councils across the country are facing the same difficult decisions. The Greens are dealing with a difficult situation perfectly competently. Any frustration should be directed at central government.
ourcoalition
says...
9:20pm Wed 28 Nov 12
george smith wrote:You might want to know that some Home Carers in the City are paid the minimum wage, below those in London and are not paid at all between visits. This is a cause of concern, not just to the Greens and Reds, but also eloquently raised by Councillors MAry Mears and Dawn Barnett recently. Last time I checked, both the latter were Conservatives!!!
Get rid of the sheep, it is outrageous that home helps here are more expensive than London
The reason Council Home Carers are paid relatively well is due to UNISON and our colleagues in the GMB, and we are proud of it!
Decent wages equals decent workers!
And they do a bloody good job with the most vulnerable people in the City.And long may they carry on.
HJarrs
says...
9:21pm Wed 28 Nov 12
And fancy some people posting that B&H has actually been reasonably successful compared to councils around the country in resisting cuts and bringing in investment. It is not on. Don't you know that your are seriously inconveniencing many regular posters who would have us believe B&H is in some sort of crisis despite all the evidence to the contrary. Really! Shame on you. Next some of you will be suggesting that there is some sort of misinformation campaign going on!
Hollingdeanresident
says...
9:52pm Wed 28 Nov 12
funkyyoyo
says...
11:19pm Wed 28 Nov 12
george smith
says...
6:18am Thu 29 Nov 12
ourcoalition wrote:Totally agree, however the Gaurdian ran a piece ' Home care is free in Tower Hamlets, but it costs £21.50 per hour in Brighton and Hove' I still maintain the elderly are more important than sheep
george smith wrote: Get rid of the sheep, it is outrageous that home helps here are more expensive than LondonYou might want to know that some Home Carers in the City are paid the minimum wage, below those in London and are not paid at all between visits. This is a cause of concern, not just to the Greens and Reds, but also eloquently raised by Councillors MAry Mears and Dawn Barnett recently. Last time I checked, both the latter were Conservatives!!! The reason Council Home Carers are paid relatively well is due to UNISON and our colleagues in the GMB, and we are proud of it! Decent wages equals decent workers! And they do a bloody good job with the most vulnerable people in the City.And long may they carry on.
mnairb
says...
7:37am Thu 29 Nov 12
fred clause
says...
8:07am Thu 29 Nov 12
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
8:20am Thu 29 Nov 12
Yes, your money is being spent replacing an already adequate cycle lane.
The traffic queue was horrendous.
Now I know why HGVs and minibuses and skip lorries are coming down through the Coombe Road area to avoid the bottleneck.
Thanks Kitkat and thank you all you selfish Green voters who don't live in this corridor and probably don't even use bikes.
Now our 20mph community is blighted by lorries and even more traffic.
You really have a never coming to me with a begging bowl asking for money when you've ignored your own traffic report about the impact on residential areas and blighted my community.
I am cancelling my direct debit and you can beg for it, and if everyone else does this the council will have a cash flow issue it will have to explain.
Half baked.
HJarrs
says...
8:45am Thu 29 Nov 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:I look forward to your appearance in court.
This morning the 7.20am milk float was trundling along the Lewes Road which is now down to a single lane in preparation for the cycle lane to be repklaced by a multi-million cycle lane. Yes, your money is being spent replacing an already adequate cycle lane. The traffic queue was horrendous. Now I know why HGVs and minibuses and skip lorries are coming down through the Coombe Road area to avoid the bottleneck. Thanks Kitkat and thank you all you selfish Green voters who don't live in this corridor and probably don't even use bikes. Now our 20mph community is blighted by lorries and even more traffic. You really have a never coming to me with a begging bowl asking for money when you've ignored your own traffic report about the impact on residential areas and blighted my community. I am cancelling my direct debit and you can beg for it, and if everyone else does this the council will have a cash flow issue it will have to explain. Half baked.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
8:50am Thu 29 Nov 12
Her is some financial info for you.
Companies and councils rely on payment by direct debit, hence the discounts offered by payment in this way.
This gives businesses/councils cashflow and enables them to raise loans with banks.
DD is a key tool in financial management.
By customers cancelling DD, there is no cash flow putting business into financial difficulties and can lead to heads rolling.
However, customers are not breaking the law by paying by other methods or by leaving payment until the authority chases with reminder letters.
This tactic is powerful for the customer.
So you wont see me in court.
You need to get a job in UK industry and get some more experience HJarrs because your naivety is astonishing.
It's a lovely day, take the baby for a walk.
HJarrs
says...
8:51am Thu 29 Nov 12
mnairb wrote:Easy...as was pointed out before and after the election by many commentators the Conservative policies of contracting demand and other pressures such as purposefully increasing job insecurity and failing to stop astonishing levels of tax avoidance have meant lower levels of growth, less than forecast tax receipts and increased spending on benefits and an ability to drive savings from cuts.
Perhaps the Green supporting financial wizards on here decrying those nasty people in Westminster and their draconian cuts could explain why Government spending is actually increasing (and set to increase by more) and the deficit is rising, not contracting?
This governement has been so incompitent as to be unbelievable, almost every policy has a U-turn and it is run by what is supposed to be the elite! So much for being born with a silver spoon and going to Eton and Oxbridge if this is the best they can do.
hove dweller
says...
8:56am Thu 29 Nov 12
leobrighton wrote:BHCC have allocated 25k to pride in the budget to "help pride formulate a business plan"
What a stupid vote from the Arsegas. The council does'nt spend any money on pride so why ask people to vote for cuts. Typical Argus to be so politically biased and rub people up the wrong way. No wonder circulation is so pityful
Ballroom Blitz
says...
10:05am Thu 29 Nov 12
I have long advocated a hike in the council tax
We are such a penny pinching, mean spirited country.
I would far rather it was decided what we need as a civilised society, and then adjust taxes accordingly, instead of this constant preoccupation with cutting public spending.
This doesn't mean it's ok to waste public money on daft schemes like the electric car power points, which are hardly ever used. Or on all the mental sticking out kerbs, that were perfectly ok as they were.
Joshiman
says...
12:46pm Thu 29 Nov 12
ing and clearing up after demonstrators.800k shortfall in parking because only a few rich drivers can afford to park in Brighton.Cycle counters/electric car power points.
Basically Greens equals waste(in more ways than you think)
mnairb
says...
1:34pm Thu 29 Nov 12
HJarrs wrote:And of course your Socialist 'men and women of the people' were all educated in Comprehensives and worked their way up in industry then? To name but a few, the names Blair, Balls, Kelly, Darling, Hodge, Hewitt come to mind - all privately educated and most Oxbridge, as you call it, and, by the way, none of them has ever had a proper job. Their slogan appears to be 'we know we're toffs but we're not as toffy as the Tory lot'. Incidentally, HJarrs, I don't know where you went to school (and don't much care), but you must have had a poor spelling teacher.
mnairb wrote: Perhaps the Green supporting financial wizards on here decrying those nasty people in Westminster and their draconian cuts could explain why Government spending is actually increasing (and set to increase by more) and the deficit is rising, not contracting?Easy...as was pointed out before and after the election by many commentators the Conservative policies of contracting demand and other pressures such as purposefully increasing job insecurity and failing to stop astonishing levels of tax avoidance have meant lower levels of growth, less than forecast tax receipts and increased spending on benefits and an ability to drive savings from cuts. This governement has been so incompitent as to be unbelievable, almost every policy has a U-turn and it is run by what is supposed to be the elite! So much for being born with a silver spoon and going to Eton and Oxbridge if this is the best they can do.
Dealing with idiots
says...
3:56pm Thu 29 Nov 12
george smith
says...
5:06pm Thu 29 Nov 12
mnairb wrote:Didn't Lucas and Kitkat go to private schools
HJarrs wrote:And of course your Socialist 'men and women of the people' were all educated in Comprehensives and worked their way up in industry then? To name but a few, the names Blair, Balls, Kelly, Darling, Hodge, Hewitt come to mind - all privately educated and most Oxbridge, as you call it, and, by the way, none of them has ever had a proper job. Their slogan appears to be 'we know we're toffs but we're not as toffy as the Tory lot'. Incidentally, HJarrs, I don't know where you went to school (and don't much care), but you must have had a poor spelling teacher.mnairb wrote: Perhaps the Green supporting financial wizards on here decrying those nasty people in Westminster and their draconian cuts could explain why Government spending is actually increasing (and set to increase by more) and the deficit is rising, not contracting?Easy...as was pointed out before and after the election by many commentators the Conservative policies of contracting demand and other pressures such as purposefully increasing job insecurity and failing to stop astonishing levels of tax avoidance have meant lower levels of growth, less than forecast tax receipts and increased spending on benefits and an ability to drive savings from cuts. This governement has been so incompitent as to be unbelievable, almost every policy has a U-turn and it is run by what is supposed to be the elite! So much for being born with a silver spoon and going to Eton and Oxbridge if this is the best they can do.
OhComeOnPlease
says...
2:50pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Brian62 wrote:Because it would cost most of the 2.1% to stage the referendum!
How about making it 2.1% rise ,hold a City Wide referendum and see what the electorate think.
But of course they won't as the Green Party don't care what we think.
OhComeOnPlease
says...
2:53pm Fri 30 Nov 12
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:It it was already adequate, why was someone killed on it last year and her family now support the improvements to Lewes Road?
This morning the 7.20am milk float was trundling along the Lewes Road which is now down to a single lane in preparation for the cycle lane to be repklaced by a multi-million cycle lane.
Yes, your money is being spent replacing an already adequate cycle lane.
The traffic queue was horrendous.
Now I know why HGVs and minibuses and skip lorries are coming down through the Coombe Road area to avoid the bottleneck.
Thanks Kitkat and thank you all you selfish Green voters who don't live in this corridor and probably don't even use bikes.
Now our 20mph community is blighted by lorries and even more traffic.
You really have a never coming to me with a begging bowl asking for money when you've ignored your own traffic report about the impact on residential areas and blighted my community.
I am cancelling my direct debit and you can beg for it, and if everyone else does this the council will have a cash flow issue it will have to explain.
Half baked.
stamponcockroaches says...
1:42pm Wed 28 Nov 12