LABOUR councillors claim to have found a way to save four under-threat children’s centres without forcing a council tax referendum.

The party is proposing to save the four Brighton and Hove centres currently at risk of closure under a 1.99% council tax rise budget as part of amendments they will bring to next week’s crunch budget meeting.

Labour’s amendments also look to halt any proposed increase in car parking charges and would keep all under threat public toilets open.

Senior Green figures said the proposals were “depressingly short-termist” in providing services’ funding for just one more year.

Other amendments being tabled by Labour include a bid to remove cuts proposed for domestic violence refuges, the Mayor’s department, employer Able and Willing and the Pride Parade.

The party claim the services can all be saved by making cuts to the council’s communications, senior management and sustainability budgets as well as using more than £1 million set aside for a no result in a potential council tax referendum.

Councillor Warren Morgan, Labour group leader, said that full amendment details are currently being “finalised, costed and approved” by officers. 

He said the Green administration had made “very bad choices” in its funding cuts.

Coun Morgan added: “Residents want their council to protect children’s centres, keep public toilets open, maintain funding to essential voluntary sector organisations in the city, and block inflation-busting rises in council tax and parking charges.”

Councillor Ollie Sykes, lead member for finance, described the proposals as “depressingly short-termist and hypocritical” which provided no relief for under-pressure adult social care, Cityclean, Moulsecoomb summer and Home Care for vulnerable adults which are all protected under the Green’s preferred 5.9% council tax rise.

Council leader Jason Kitcat added: “Labour are relying on one-off money and cutting work that saves the council money in the long run in the hope of winning a short-term headline.

“He said his party would not support “short-sighted politicking” but could come to agreement if “sensible common ground” could be found.