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Greens to unveil their draft budget on Thursday

By James Ledward
Nov 26, 2011 - 10:56:46 AM
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Cllr Bill Randell

Brighton & Hove's Green councillors will be unveiling their draft budget proposals at a press conference next Thursday, the first budget ever to be set by a Green administration in the UK.
 
The Greens are publishing their proposals far earlier than any other previous administration in the city to provide time for wide-ranging, transparent and unprecedented consultation with city residents and others before the budget is finalised in February.

Brighton and Hove is one of the first local authorities in the country to reveal financial plans for next year.
 
Councillor Bill Randall, Leader of the Council, said:
“The Tory-led government is imposing deep cuts in local authority services nation-wide. With Brighton & Hove on the receiving end of above-average cuts totalling £20 million this year, it’s a difficult time to set a budget.  
 
“Greens believe in open decision-making and working with others in the city.  Therefore, we are publishing our proposals three months before the final budget-setting meeting, giving the city as much time as possible to comment on our proposals to shield the most vulnerable people of all ages from the cuts and to protect jobs.

“This is the next step in an extensive consultation exercise that has already included the other political parties, the trade unions, the community and voluntary sector and more than 2,000 members of the public who have given us their views through a web-based budget simulator, budget discussion meetings and the City Assembly for council tenants.
 
“What a difference from the last Conservative administration who last year published proposals just a few days before the meeting and with no consultation."
 
Cllr Jason Kitcat, Cabinet Member for Finance & Central Services, added:
“Most budgets are set a year at a time. We are breaking with tradition by presenting two-year proposals so that the council can plan better and to ensure that any changes are sustainable.
 
“Local government finance is complicated and we know many residents have queries, so we will also be publishing a list of frequently asked questions to help answer them, and to explain the council’s current position.
 
“I hope residents and others in the city are able to participate in the consultation we have planned, and will work with us to safeguard services in the face of Tory-led government cuts.”
 
The Green administration is holding a press conference to present the full Budget proposals in the Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 4H on World Aids Day December 1, at 11am
 

 


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