Greens propose 5.9 per cent council tax for Brighton and Hove

The Green Party is proposing a 5.9 per cent rise in council tax next year.

Council leader Jason Kitcat said that the rise was necessary to plug a growing financial hole in the finances of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Councillor Kitcat said that the growing demand for services and the cut in support from the government meant a gap of about £25 million.

Even with a 5.9 per cent rise, which would trigger a referendum next May, the gap would still be just over £20 million.

As a result spending will have to be cut with adult social care and children’s services – two of the biggest spending budgets – bearing the brunt of any changes.

Councillor Kitcat said: “It’s really tough. Our job is to do the best we can for the city. We have set out what we think is the only responsible option.”

He said that a 5.9 per cent rise would equate to £1.48 a week extra to the council tax bill for a band D property. A 2 per cent rise equated to 99p. Most people, he said, would pay less because the vast majority of homes in Brighton and Hove are bands A, B and C.

Last year the Greens proposed a 4.75 per cent rise which was rejected by opposition Conservative and Labour councillors.

After a budget stalemate, the council ended up putting up council tax by just under 2 per cent, avoiding the need for a referendum.