J Couture from Peacehaven stated there should be more facts and debate about what is really going on and at the same time stated more is paid in council tax under Tory-run East Sussex County Council than in Brighton and Hove under Labour.

East Sussex had been ruled by a Labour-Liberal administration for eight years until last May's elections, which was after the last budget was set.

I am willing to have a wager with Mr Couture that the council tax increase in the Tories' first budget will be less than Brighton and Hove's, where council tax has increased by nearly 40 per cent in four years.

-Coun Geoffrey Theobald, Brighton