Brighton & Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on the future of local services

“I had no idea how much it cost to keep the city running” – said a business owner at a recent budget consultation event we held here in Brighton & Hove. City councils like ours provide over 800 services ranging from the more obvious street-sweeping and pot-hole fixing to the less visible financial advice and social care services – so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that many don’t know the extent of our work.

With many councils trying to offset government reductions in funding, the apparent status quo in many services disguises the extent of the hardship councils find themselves in. Councils have worked hard to limit the damage to local services – especially when you consider that local government has so far seen a 38% reduction in funding while Whitehall lost just 8%.

Given the universally-acknowledged funding crisis that all councils face in the coming years, now more than ever residents should know what they’re paying for and what might have to go to close the budget gap. The time is right to have the debate about local services – and especially about social care.

We need to explain that more ‘efficiency and management savings’ alone cannot possibly solve the crisis ahead. In a few years when councils have little option but to run skeleton operations, it will be too late.

We’re entering a vital period for local services – it’s our duty now to raise awareness, inform a debate, and involve local people in decisions about the future of their services. That’s why, along with sound financial reasons, our administration believes a referendum on a 4.75% council tax increase to pay for social care services is now necessary. We are asking councillors from the other parties to put aside their commitments to austerity, and give the residents of the city a chance to participate in this debate about the future of local services.