How on earth does Brighton and Hove City Council consider we can afford to pay a tax rise of five times the rate of inflation, especially those people on fixed incomes?

Further, this latest proposed rise follows similar increases in excess of inflation for at least the past two years (of six and 12 per cent).

The council is acting irresponsibly in this respect and should rather be looking at means of reducing costs. It could start with curbing the proliferation of non-jobs within its offices.

The mark of a decent and civilised city is a safe, clean, pleasant environment and prospective visitors and residents alike are entitled to expect this as a minimum.

The council has not been conspicuously successful in providing this and until it achieves improvements in the basic requirements it should rein in its ambitions in other directions. First and foremost, it should consider the interests and well-being of the taxpayers it purports to represent

-G I Stoner, Sunninghill Avenue, Hove