Council Budget seeks to improve quality of life for residents

7.52.04pm GMT Tue 31st Jan 2006

Liberal Democrats backed Council Budget proposals to keep the City's Council Tax increase below 5% and boost key priority areas for residents, such as measures to help young people, tackle graffiti and increase funding for disabled access. Tories and shockingly the Greens failed to support the measures aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.

Thanks to Liberal Democrats Councillors, this year Brighton and Hove Council will:

• Continue funding St Patrick's Night Shelter

• Provide free access to bus travel for all pensioners and disabled people

• Start meeting the challenge faced by climate change through better home efficiency

• Increase funding for voluntary sector organisations

• Fund this year's Pride Festival

• Provide additional investment in the fight against graffiti

• Invest in new youth enterprise projects

• Fund talking bus stops for people with poor sight

• Support local traders through business improvement districts

• Install another new CCTV camera to cut crime and anti-social behaviour

• Massively increase funding for children's services

• Increase funds for caring for older people, adults with learning disabilities and those with mental health needs.

The Tories voted against all of these measures, and shockingly the Greens failed to support these proposals too.

Lib Dem Policy & Resources Spokesperson, Cllr. Paul Elgood said; "Working with the Labour Administration we are pleased to announce plans to keep the council tax increase to just under 5%. Importantly we will make extra investment in some important residents priorities including; £130,000 for graffiti prevention; £650,000, up £200,000 from this year, on making council facilities more accessible for people with disabilities; £130,000 to help young people get the skills they, and the City need, and much needed repairs to street lighting on Hove seafront.

'We have focused on measures to improve the quality of life for residents, such as greater investment for young people's activities, more resources for fighting graffiti and money for better disabled access. Our proposals include the lowest possible council tax increase, in what is a difficult year for funding thanks to the government.'