The debate over how to save £17 million from a town hall budget has been raging for weeks – and now you have a chance to say what’s important to you.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s minority Green administration revealed how it would meet the challenge of Government-imposed cuts to budgets last month.
After weeks of political debate The Argus is now giving you the chance to have your say on what threatened service you would like to see preserved.
When the budget proposal was launched in December – seven weeks ahead of other local authorities – council leader Bill Randall described it as a “fair budget for tough times”.
He added: “It protects services for the most vulnerable men, women and children in the city as far as possible.”
Tax increase
Central to the Green plans is a council tax rise of 3.5%, the largest possible without leading to a local official referendum.
However, this means the local authority will turn down a £2.5 million one-off grant from the Government that was available if it froze council tax.
Approximately 6,000 people have taken part in The Argus’ poll on the issue with about 70% of responses calling for the local authority to freeze the rates.
Among those services to be reviewed and which face potential closures or reduced opening hours under the Green budget plan are libraries, children’s centres and toilets.
Hundreds of people have also campaigned on the planned ending of council subsidies to the music service, City in Bloom and the Shopmobility scheme in Churchill Square Shopping Centre.
Parking charges
A series of inflation-busting increases to charges are planned for parking charges, access to sports pavilions and some environmental health services.
The Green administration has put forward its own proposals and groups across the city are being encouraged to have their say.
About 3,000 people have accessed the council’s own budget simulator with more than 700 fully completed answers.
This, along with The Argus poll and submissions from community groups and trade unions, will be taken into account when the final budget proposal is compiled before a cabinet meeting on February 9.
It is believed opposition parties will then reveal their budget plans and a final decision will be taken at a meeting of all 54 councillors in Brighton Town Hall on February 23 at 4.30pm.
To take part in the budget simulator visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/budget.
To have your say don’t miss The Argus tomorrow (January 13) with the first of a series of reports which will allow you to tell decision makers what’s important to you.
Debate about the council budget has been raging between Labour peer and former city council leader Steve Bassam and a range of Green councillors and supporters on Twitter.
The Argus is curating the Tweets using Storify, and updating throughout the day.
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