Allotment subsidies could be partly restored as opposition councillors look to balance the books.

On Thursday all 54 members on Brighton and Hove City Council will finalise budget plans on how to save £17 million in the next financial year.

The Green minority administration of 23 councillors published initial plans for 2012/13 in December and consulted for two months before it finalised its proposals.

Now the Conservative (18 members) and Labour (13) groups have submitted amendments knowing that they could unite and outvote the ruling party.

Yesterday it was revealed both would use money elsewhere in the budget to ensure smaller increases to allotment rate holders.

The Greens planned to end the historic subsidy with rises in the price of a plot over the next two years.

This would mean the price of a standard half plot would increase from the £33 it currently is to £44.20 (up 34%) in 2012/13 and again to £55.40 (up 67%) in 2013/14.

Dozens of people had opposed the move claiming it would make sustainable living harder for the less well off.

Both Conservative and Labour groups have now proposed reducing these increases.

The Conservatives would do this by redirecting council money from trade union activities to ensure allotment increases were only £3 for a half-plot.

The Labour group would use money from the parking revenue to ensure the rise was only £2 a year (about 6%).

It was part of a number of amendments which were finalised and submitted by opposition groups at midday yesterday.

Finance officers will now work through them and ensure they are economically sound before they are revealed at 5pm today.

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