IF COUNCIL leader Warren Morgan picks up The Argus today and reads the front page headlines he will be forgiven for being disappointed.

He has pointed out his labour administration has done all it can to save jobs and services. So he will be right to be miffed. But as a city Brighton and Hove would not want any other reaction. We want him to be disappointed that council tax has had to go up by the maximum amount. And he obviously wants to focus on the positives.

Nobody at the council need arrive at work today fearing that they will receive their P45.

He is right to point out that these are not salami slices, proper efficiency measures have been made.

And Councillor Morgan points out there is no major cut to a particular service with children’s services and libraries protected.

On first reading this council budget shows how well the Labour administration has done to protect services.

That is the Labour administration’s job and it has done well to steer clear of those emotive cuts.

But this newspaper stands by its decision to go with the basic information of the tax rises that our readers face.

The harsh truth is that some of us face paying out a lot more in tax. We will be getting less for our money and huge efficiency savings must have some effect.

In truth that probably is not the fault of Councillor Morgan and his Labour colleagues.

National funding to our councils is forcing them to operate with one arm tied behind their back. But it is The Argus’s job to show you how the cuts are continuing to hit us all on a local level.