City council tax to see a 2% rise

4:30pm Saturday 9th February 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

Balance the Budget Balance the Budget

A council tax rise of just under 2% is officially on the table for Brighton and Hove.
 

Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green administration believes an increase in the rates of 1.96% - the maximum amount possible - will help it tackle Government cuts.
 

Council bosses claim the below-inflation rise is necessary to make £17 million of savings while protecting vital services and the most vulnerable in the city.
 

But Conservative councillors say the administration only has to find £780,000 more to ensure a tax freeze – which would mean the city would get a one-off government grant of £1.2 million.
 

The Tories have laid down the gauntlet to Labour members, asking them to support the plans against the minority administration.
 

Conservative group leader Geoffrey Theobald said: “We have argued consistently the Greens should be delivering a council tax freeze for residents and so we are disappointed, but not surprised, that they are pushing ahead with their plans.
 

“Last year Labour came off the fence to support us and I urge them to do the same again this year.”
 

Labour group leader Gill Mitchell would not be moved when asked where her party stood on council tax.
 

She said: “We’re pleased that the Greens are not cutting as much from the benefit services at this time of such upheaval in the welfare system but we’re very concerned by the continuing cuts to the homelessness budget.”
 

The final proposals were released yesterday ahead of a crunch meeting of all councillors on February 28.
 

The headline cuts include the mobile library (£30,000), children’s centres (£273,000) and visitor information centre (£50,000).
 

Cuts of £19,000 are also proposed from the homelessness budget while the music service will have reduced funding (£53,000).


But £8,000 from the cricket pitch subsidies will be maintained.
 

Fees across the council, from children’s centres to cemetery costs, will also be increased by a minimum of 2%.
 

Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “These budget proposals are designed to protect essential services for residents in the city in the face of massive changes to the ways councils are funded."


Do you back a council tax rise?
 

Comments(23)

Mr Walloff Domburg says...
4:49pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Hopefully, this rise will be the nail in the snot Greens coffin.

I assume the rise is their just out of spite because they know they are on their way out.

Hateful party with hateful policies. And the fact, the majority of the country has their council tax frozen proves this to be true.

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george smith says...
5:05pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Unfortunately salaries have been frozen for years. Where do they think the money is going to come from. Should we sell our houses to those from londonsan and move to Hull?

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Vigilia says...
5:19pm Sat 9 Feb 13

They've got to find the £1,000 a day they squander on travellers and vagrants from somewhere.

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Kate234 says...
5:21pm Sat 9 Feb 13

The council have plenty of money to waste and so council tax should be frozen or cut. Just look at how much has been spent on cycle lanes that almost no one uses which have resulted in a slower bus service.

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Vigilia says...
5:22pm Sat 9 Feb 13

"The headline cuts include the mobile library (£30,000), children’s centres (£273,000) and visitor information centre (£50,000)."

My goodness, almost exactly what they spend on travellers.

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Andy R says...
5:34pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Mr Walloff Domburg wrote:
Hopefully, this rise will be the nail in the snot Greens coffin.

I assume the rise is their just out of spite because they know they are on their way out.

Hateful party with hateful policies. And the fact, the majority of the country has their council tax frozen proves this to be true.
Where are you getting this nonsense about "most of the country having their council tax frozen"?

And if you're going to create sock puppet accounts, Algeria, it's a good idea to vary the insults.......

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NickBtn says...
5:35pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Just over £3/4m is needed to ensure that B+H can get a grant to freeze council tax. That will be welcome to many financially stretched households. The conservatives are for this and if labour agree then it can happen as together they can outvote the minority greens

So labour - will you support the many families and households struggling at the moment?

What services would have to be cut for this? Well most could be found by postponing the unenforceable 20mph central zone and then making this apply just to small residential roads the following year. Or is that too simple?

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bug eye says...
6:00pm Sat 9 Feb 13

what are the new 20mph signs and changes costing taxpayers just thought i would add that one, and is it really essential during tough times when all the other ridiculous road schemes are supposed to make us safer. well we maybe able to cross the road quicker but end up with permanent health problems from the fumes of stationary traffic. labour know they have to go along with the tories, but they oppose everything for the sake of it that is there only policy, and why Nick Clegg did not coalise with them as they are not credible any more. the vast majority of councils around the country have frozen council tax and cutting waste, we have plenty of Green waste here we could cut.

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Fight_Back says...
6:01pm Sat 9 Feb 13

If the Greens were really serious then they'd go for the 2%+ option and put it to the vote but as it is they are a bunch of cowards !!!!!! Vote ANYONE but GREEN !!!!

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Thay Qon U says...
6:08pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Here is some fairly definitive survey data about English Council's plans for their 2013-14 Council Tax levies:-
http://www.lgcplus.c
om/blogs/council-tax
-intentions-in-2013/
5053536.blog

This suggests that Mr Domburg's comment above is more in unison with this LGC (Local Government Chronicle) published survey data, but perhaps Andy R has other sources that he can share with us all to support his counter-claim and "sock puppet accounts" comment?

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HJarrs says...
7:14pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Below rate of inflation and the first rise in 3 years. What is the big deal? Council tax has gone up less than any utility bill, but there is almost silence from the usual commenters about this.

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Mr Walloff Domburg says...
8:07pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Andy R wrote:
Mr Walloff Domburg wrote:
Hopefully, this rise will be the nail in the snot Greens coffin.

I assume the rise is their just out of spite because they know they are on their way out.

Hateful party with hateful policies. And the fact, the majority of the country has their council tax frozen proves this to be true.
Where are you getting this nonsense about "most of the country having their council tax frozen"?

And if you're going to create sock puppet accounts, Algeria, it's a good idea to vary the insults.......
I read the news. Perhaps you should do the same sweetheart for up to date facts.

Thanks for doing a google search on my name by the way. Very industrious, if not a little desperate. X

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Andy R says...
8:31pm Sat 9 Feb 13

No Google search here; just an educated guess. Like I said, the giveaways were all there.....

The survey linked to above shows....55% plan to freeze, due only to the government's bribe. This is well down on last year as more and more councils recognise the government's bribe for the poisoned chalice it is. Do all the Labour, Tory and LD councils not freezing council all have "hateful politics" too?

In reality, three quarters of councils are putting up council tax for the poorest anyway by cutting council tax benefit. That's down to a government funding cut. What masters of giving with one hand and taking away with the other they are proving to be.

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Mr Walloff Domburg says...
8:45pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Andy R,

Your choice, your vote. Whilst i understand you are brainwashed by Marxian leftist filth, if you represented the vast majority of Brightonians, you would not vote for the snot Greens ever again.

But as you know doubt love pro-drug, pro-criminal, pro- gypsy politics, it's your choice.

For generations my family (including me) have fought in the armed services to keep Britain a democracy, so I respect your choice. I vehemently disagree with it, but I respect it.

And just as my late dad fought the Nazi's to free Britain of hate, I will do my little bit to fit the evil scum that run Brighton and destroy lives.

Yes, the snot Greens are destroying lives, if you don't believe me actually ask a local business before they all go under. Actually ask a commuter instead of having your head in the clouds and think

"Oh aren't the Greens just wonderful because I live in bohemian Brighton, and they are really right on and love fluffy animals and its really trendy to like Marxists so we can mock Cameron and wear scruffy clothes"

You are probably not even a Brightonian, like the majority of snot Green voters. You never knew this town when it was great, did you?

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nocando says...
8:47pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Small state, low tax. That's what Thatcher said. Ever since she went we've been at the mercy of political pygmies with big ideas on how to spend our money for us but no idea how to generate it apart from parking fees.
Ever get the feeling you're being cheated?

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Andy R says...
9:07pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Mr Walloff Domburg wrote:
Andy R,

Your choice, your vote. Whilst i understand you are brainwashed by Marxian leftist filth, if you represented the vast majority of Brightonians, you would not vote for the snot Greens ever again.

But as you know doubt love pro-drug, pro-criminal, pro- gypsy politics, it's your choice.

For generations my family (including me) have fought in the armed services to keep Britain a democracy, so I respect your choice. I vehemently disagree with it, but I respect it.

And just as my late dad fought the Nazi's to free Britain of hate, I will do my little bit to fit the evil scum that run Brighton and destroy lives.

Yes, the snot Greens are destroying lives, if you don't believe me actually ask a local business before they all go under. Actually ask a commuter instead of having your head in the clouds and think

"Oh aren't the Greens just wonderful because I live in bohemian Brighton, and they are really right on and love fluffy animals and its really trendy to like Marxists so we can mock Cameron and wear scruffy clothes"

You are probably not even a Brightonian, like the majority of snot Green voters. You never knew this town when it was great, did you?
Er....thanks for sharing.

No more coffee for you tonight!

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:59pm Sat 9 Feb 13

This is the council offering drivers in the Coombe Road area lessons on Eco driving because the councillors know the data from pollution monitors on the Lewes Road will show a decline in air quality because the new eco bus lane has caused unprecedented congestion.
I honestly don't know how these councillors sleep at night robbing the poor like bare faced Tories.
Rotten the lot of them.

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Fight_Back says...
6:16am Sun 10 Feb 13

HJarrs wrote:
Below rate of inflation and the first rise in 3 years. What is the big deal? Council tax has gone up less than any utility bill, but there is almost silence from the usual commenters about this.
Given most of us have had pay freezes for the last 3-4 years but the cost of living has gone up, I'd suggest it IS a bog deal. Would you mind paying my increase for me ? Of course not !

Any council that doesn't arrange contracts with it's suppliers that provide of year on year savings should sack it's contracts manager. Add in no council employee pay rises and there is NO reason ( or excuse ) for council tax increases. If the Greens want an increase then it's down to their own incompetence.

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Tallywhacker says...
8:16am Sun 10 Feb 13

As a start any new schemes should be placed on hold straight away. It isn't rocket science that if your budget is being squeezed you don't get new furniture and book a holiday then demand a pay rise from the boss. Cancelling or limiting the 20mph fiasco will save money straight away. So council stop acting as though you have no choice because you do, or quit your job and get people who will stop endless spending and start working within your budget.

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Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:51am Sun 10 Feb 13

Fight_Back wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Below rate of inflation and the first rise in 3 years. What is the big deal? Council tax has gone up less than any utility bill, but there is almost silence from the usual commenters about this.
Given most of us have had pay freezes for the last 3-4 years but the cost of living has gone up, I'd suggest it IS a bog deal. Would you mind paying my increase for me ? Of course not !

Any council that doesn't arrange contracts with it's suppliers that provide of year on year savings should sack it's contracts manager. Add in no council employee pay rises and there is NO reason ( or excuse ) for council tax increases. If the Greens want an increase then it's down to their own incompetence.
Well said,

HJarrs, views above are those of the green party's village idiot and best ignored.

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Bristol VR says...
10:37am Sun 10 Feb 13

This is just ridiculous... I know 1.98% isn't that much in the grand scheme of things but isn't it about time we as citizens of this country just stood up to these people and say no.. enough is enough. We have suffered pay freeze after pay freeze and pay cut after pay cut and the powers that be just think we can conjure up more money out of our aready overstretched budgets, this whole idea that the council thinks we can afford it needs turning on it's head. Time to vote this lot of muppets out!

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
3:23pm Sun 10 Feb 13

we all are having to manage on less money Why should the Greens expect more??

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Eugenius says...
11:01am Mon 11 Feb 13

The council *is* managing with less money - a lot less. Cuts to the funding grant from central government mean that there is £17 million less this year, and there's an additional £25m cut predicted for each of the next two years. And that's assuming that this below-inflation 2% tax rise goes through.

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