Labour welcome many of the Administration’s budget proposals, that are based on Labour’s Council Plan. We are bringing forward amendments focused on listening to our communities, combating climate change with incentives not sanctions and tackling disadvantage across the city.

Labour Councillors have already led the way and worked collaboratively to improve the budget. We won support for proposals to expand the Council Tax Reduction scheme and led a cross-party proposal to increase funding opportunities for the Community and Voluntary Sector.

Our further budget proposals include measures to tackle drug dealing, freeze parking permit charges for the majority of residents, tackle the educational attainment gap faced by children in disadvantaged areas, and support the city’s economic recovery.

Labour have proposed three measures that work together to combat climate change in line with the Climate Assembly’s recommendation to focus on incentives rather than sanctions. These include preventing excessive parking permit rises, introducing a ‘carbon partner’ incentive scheme and investing in improving bus services across the city.

We have listened to our residents who have told us of the damage and misery caused by drug dealing, drug abuse and cuckooing in their communities. That’s why we want the Council to fund a dedicated Community Drug Impact Co-ordinator post and set up a city-wide community drug summit.

Labour wants to help people living in disadvantage and struggling on lower incomes due to the pandemic. We want to reverse cuts to school services that improve outcomes for disadvantaged children, fund a project to provide early help for families recovering from the pandemic and freezing parking permit charges.

Our proposals will strengthen the budget and improve outcomes for our residents. We are listening to our communities, combating the climate crisis, and tackling disadvantage.

Labour’s Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Nancy Platts says:

“I’m pleased to see that the Green Administration has used Labour’s previous progressive, balanced budget as a base for their budget this year, which is centred around Labour’s council plan. I welcome this spirit of co-operation and the opportunity to consolidate our work.

“We have already led efforts to strengthen the budget and our further proposals will have a positive impact on residents’ lives. We have listened to our communities and brought forward plans to address residents’ concerns on issues such as drug dealing, parking charges and bus services.

“Our amendments include a focus on tackling disadvantage across the city and combating the climate crisis through incentives, not sanctions.

“As usual, Labour’s approach to the Budget will be to work constructively and in the best interests of the City to secure positive outcomes for residents.”

Labour’s Finance Lead, Councillor Dan Yates says:

“Labour’s budget proposals build on the positive changes we’ve already made to the budget, such as expanding the Council Tax Reduction scheme and increasing funding opportunities for the Community and Voluntary Sector. They focus on the key issues our city faces.

“From tackling disadvantage, to combating the climate crisis, addressing drug crime and the educational attainment gap, to boosting the economic recovery of Brighton & Hove, Labour’s plans will deliver for our residents.”