Liberal Democrats: Creative ways to generate income

How much should council tax rise? More than 5.9%? | 5.9%? | 1.9%? | It should stay the same | It should be reduced | #BHIndyRef

24.3%. That's the rise in council tax needed to plug the funding gap for 2015-16. Whatever the outcome, cuts will have to be found.

The 5.9% rise advocated by the Greens would raise just 0.8% of the council's budget.

We don't know if the proposed budget is workable and if money is being spent effectively or even allocated in the best way for our city's residents.

Just taking slices of money away from each council service doesn't work. The council needs to draw up a budget, starting again from zero, justifying the allocation of funds to every area of council spending. Lib Dems propose this exercise for 2016-17 and for 2015-16, council tax should be frozen.

A freeze in council tax does not mean a freeze in council income. Central government awards a grant - equivalent to a 1% increase - to councils who freeze their council tax. In 2014-15, 54% of unitary authorities received the grant, yet Brighton and Hove's Greens demanded an increase above the referendum threshold - and again we are the only authority hoping to do so, involving us in unnecessary expenditure.

Local Lib Dems will be proposing creative ways the council can generate income apart from raising the council tax.

Jeremy Gale is Liberal Democrats candidate for Central Hove.

Greens: Fairness in tough times - Have Your Say

Conservatives: Reform is needed - Have Your Say

Labour: Our positive policies - Have Your Say

UKIP: Use all the council's resources - Have Your Say

Liberal Democrats: Creative ways to generate income - Have Your Say