Brighton and Hove cabinet backs proposed council tax rise

The Greens in Brighton and Hove took another step towards putting up council tax by 3.5 per cent when the move was approved at a meeting yesterday (Thursday 9 February).

The Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet – the ten Greens who run the council – agreed the measure which will go before the full council on Thursday 23 February.

The Conservative and Labour opposition leaders on the council have indicated that they will vote against the rise.

Instead they want to accept one-off grant of £3 million from the government to fund a freeze in council tax this year.

Last year Labour and the Greens joined forces to vote for a freeze in council tax while the Conservatives, then in charge, proposed a 1 per cent cut.

The government also funded the freeze last year but pledge to make up the shortfall in the council’s finances for four years.

Councillor Jason Kitcat, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said that the one-off grant being offered this year was a gimmick.

He said that, like a payday loan, it would leave council tax payers in Brighton and Hove worse off in future years and mean more cuts to services.

Already in the past few months there have been protests about threats to the children’s music service, the possible closure of some public toilets and the proposed rise in some parking charges.