Whoever was it that came up with the slogan "Brighton and Hove - the Place To Be?"

For the past two years, we have seen a decline in the level of services in the city and now hear predictions by Brighton and Hove City Council of a steep, inflation-busting rise in council tax next Spring to cover the massive overspend in its budget.

When, earlier this year, our eldest son was married, it was with some embarrassment that we had visitors here from various parts of the country.

Our relations simply could not believe the filthy state of the area, with black bin-liners piled up on almost every street corner, spewing rubbish in all directions.

Even now, with that crisis supposedly solved, the autumn leaves are stacked up high on pathways in the Seven Dials area, where I live.

One slip on those and you could find yourself in need of medical attention (but how many hours would you have to wait in casualty to receive it?).

When will the council leaders wake up to the fact that they are tasked to deliver services to this city within the constraints of their budget and that this is surely how the general public will judge them at the next local elections?

"The Place to Be"? Not without some radical changes.

-Mr D Weedall, Alexandra Villas, Brighton