THE price of parking permits are set to rise across the city in proposals put forward for this year's budget.

The base rate of a "high demand" permits in central Brighton - covering The Lanes, Montpelier, Seven Dials and parts of Round Hill will rise by £25 to £220. 

While full parking scheme permits in other parts of the city will increase by £10 to £175, should the budget pass in a council meeting tomorrow.

As part of the budget for the year ahead, council tax would also increase across the city by 2.99 per cent, including a one per cent rise to cover the cost of adult social care.

The price hikes are part of efforts from the Green-led administration of Brighton and Hove City Council to save millions of pounds after a forecast revealed a shortfall of £18 million in council finances.

The Argus: Parking zones Y and Z will see a £25 increase in permitsParking zones Y and Z will see a £25 increase in permits

Plans outlined in the budget would also see cuts to some services, including the Youth Arts Award scheme, youth grants and ward budgets where councillors support small-scale projects in their area.

Councillor Tom Druitt, joint finance lead, said that difficult decisions had to be made and that developing proposals had been "extremely challenging".

"Our priorities are the protection of services for the most vulnerable, supporting the city's recovery from the pandemic, and investing for the future," he said.

However, Labour denounced some of the cuts proposed as "shameful" and have put forward amendments to reverse plans to reduce funding for youth services.

Labour co-leader Carmen Appich said: "None of us in there became councillors so we can say year after year, pay more and you will get less, or we'll scrimp and save around to find savings here or there."

Conservative finance spokesman Joe Miller said that poor policy decisions made by councillors have begun to catch up with the current administration.

He said: "Unfortunately, it is the taxpayer that will now have to pay for these policy failures, poor mismanagement and waste of this council, as the Greens and Labour plan to hike council taxes once again.

"The council has been throwing taxpayers' money down a sinkhole, and now has created a budget black hole for the city."

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