Brighton and Hove Council backtracks...but not enough, say traders

The council has performed a U-turn on key areas of its budget proposals.

But Brighton and Hove City Council's Green administration has refused to back down on its plans for a 3.5% rise in council tax.

Revised proposals announced on Wednesday January 18 see the council scaling back a rise in parking permits and revising cuts to children's centres, public toilets and the music and arts service amongst others.

Brighton and Hove traders are still planning to go ahead with their protest at Hove Town Hall next week.

Members of the Traders Need Transport (TNT) Group will drive their vans and cars around the Town Hall as a protest against the increases on traders' permits – from £350 to £600 for drivers' permits (it was proposed to be £750) and business permits – from £175 to £300 (original propsal was £400).

"They have listened to the TNT campaign but they have not listened hard enoough," said Elliot Raggio, spokesman for the group.

The protest will take place at 2.30pm on Thursday. A petition will be presented to a special meeting of Environment, Transport & Sustainability on 17 February 2012, and runs from 21/12/2011 to 07/02/2012. 554 people have signed it so far. Find it here

What has been revised

    •    Parking: revised increase in charges for traders and business parking permits.

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    •    Traders. Currently £350. Original proposal £750. New proposed level £600.

    •    â€¨        Business. Currently £175. Original proposal £400. New proposed level £300.

    •    Tariff for the Eastern end of Madeira Drive to be put into low price zone all year.

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    •    Music and arts service: £160,000 being put back into the service to reduce original savings target.

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    •    Children's Centres: Cuts in 2013/14 will be reduced from £642,000 to £500,000.

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    •    Public toilets: A number to remain open, including those in Saunders Park and Vale Park.

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    •    Highways: £30,000 to be returned to the budget to ensure road markings and signs are maintained.

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    •    City in Bloom: One-off funding of £25,000 to allow the group to continue for 2012/13.

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    •    Shopmobility: One-off funding of £29,000 to allow the service to continue for 2012/13.

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    •    Small grants fund: Reversal of £55,000 cut.

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    •    Youth Employability Service: Reversal of the £120,000 cut from 2013/14.