Many local organisations feel they are being priced out of hiring rooms at Hove Town Hall.

Brighton and Hove Council renamed it the Hove Centre, concentrated on conferences, and upped the charges.

Now the council has told Hove Lions a company will be brought in to run the bars at its autumn event, effectively cutting out the money this group raises for charity from drinks.

The council wants to make better use of the Hove Centre which has a good range of rooms for all kinds of functions, But it shouldn't forget that, unlike the Brighton Centre, Hove Town Hall has always been used for many community events.

Many of these organisations have nowhere else to go and the council should ensure its charging policy is flexible enough to keep them there.