LABOUR has said they are "delighted" after securing support for a range of proposals to "improve the budget for the year ahead".

Councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council backed a range of amendments put forward by Labour councillors which aimed to tackle the climate crisis and support those struggling to get by in the city.

Funding was secured to roll out free swimming for under-18s, abolish library charges for children in favour of an "incentive model", hire more street cleaners to improve the city's appearance, reverse proposed youth service cuts and freeze parking charges in city parks.

The party's co-leader and finance lead Carmen Appich said that its proposals will "improve the lives of our residents" and said they were proud of their cross-party work to get them passed.

She said: "Our priorities when approaching this budget have been crystal clear, tackle disadvantage, protect the vulnerable, support those struggling to get by, restore basic council services that have been failing to deliver, combat the climate crisis and foster an active city of health and wellbeing.

"Our constructive amendments aimed to improve the budget by focussing on those priorities, and I’m delighted they were all successful meaning we’ve secured some big wins for residents."

Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said that the budget "sought to protect front line services" from the effects of cuts to government funding and the rising cost of social care.

He said: "We are faced with a limited number of ways to meet the challenge: increase council tax, fees and charges or make cuts to frontline services such as libraries, nurseries and leisure centres. 

"Our focus in the budget this year is supporting those most in need and as we know that council tax is one of the bills our poorest households struggle with, we’re increasing support so their bills are lower.  

"Despite the immense challenges, we’ve been able to prevent the worst impacts of cuts and bring the budget gap down from £18m to £2m which will be smoothed over four years.  

"We’re prioritising ways to keep public services running and tackle the cost-of-living crisis, providing 90 additional council homes and prioritising the council’s welfare support fund so we can provide emergency help with food and bills.” 

Included in the budget include funding towards refurbishing Victoria Fountain in Old Steine Gardens, Madeira Terrace beautification and renewal of seafront heritage lighting - which Cllr Mac Cafferty said was proof that his administration takes the task of protecting the city's heritage seriously.

However, Conservative councillor Alistair McNair has said it was "disappointing" that the Greens and Labour have worked together to vote through "the highest tax rises possible and enormous parking charge increases", and blamed the council's budget deficit on wastage under Green leadership, including hiring private contractors to help solve the bin strike last year.

He said: "Residents continue to pay for their mismanagement. We have had enough negativity from the council - we need to turn our attention to making the city a place to be proud of."

Conservative amendments, including plans to fund improvements to parks, freeze the cost of beach hut licenses, create a £70,000 package to improve women's safety in the nigh-time economy, and to commission a monarchist statue to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee, were all voted down in the meeting of council.

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