ARGUS readers have suggested ways they think Brighton and Hove City Council could avoid making cutbacks to children’s centres.

Last week, the newspaper published a report where councillors from Green, Conservative, Labour and UKIP parties, as well as independent members, gave views on how reductions in services could be avoided.

The article is part of a series since The Argus launched its Save Our Centres campaign in January, calling on Brighton and Hove City Council to reconsider proposals to shut four children’s centres to save cash.

The council states the proposals need to be considered in the context of severe cuts in the budget from the Government. Its Green administration insists it does not want to cut back on children’s centres, claiming a 5.9% council tax hike is the only alternative to avoid any services being put at risk.

The story prompted a huge response from readers, with many offering their own solutions to the financial problem.

Suggestions included not spending £10 million on refurbishing Hove Town Hall, using proceeds from selling King’s House council offices and removing some highly paid managerial posts in the council.

Readers also suggested using money from the sale of the former Preston Barracks site, the amount of which has not been disclosed by the council.

Another reader said the children’s centres could be saved by using revenue from parking fines and charges to bolster the services budget.

A spokesman said the council has a parking surplus of about £11 million, £10 million of which is spent on concessionary bus travel for older people.

He said: “By law, all parking surplus money has to be reinvested in transport-related projects.”

However, the spokesman could not confirm if any of the other options might be considered.

The council did not provide a figure of how much the Preston Barracks site in Lewes Road, Brighton, was sold for.

The barracks site was bought by the University of Brighton and developers Cathedral Group Holdings.

The spokesman added: “Due to reductions in government funding, the council has to make savings of more than £100 million over four years. We have been seeking the views of residents on how we might make these savings and we had a great deal of feedback from local people.”

The council’s policy and resources committee meets on Thursday to agree recommendations for the full council on February 26, when a decision on the budget will be made.