Brighton and Hove Council is to hold a referendum on a proposed 4.75% council tax increase, at a reported cost of £100,000.
The country’s only Green-led council administration said the rise would be used to fund adult social care services, including care for the elderly
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: ‘This is a bold move and one that I know the Council is taking very reluctantly. The people have not voted for austerity. They have not chosen to have services they rely on destroyed by draconian cuts.
‘This is an appalling situation, for which the Coalition Government is alone to blame. A referendum would allow the people of Brighton and Hove, including my constituents in Brighton Pavilion, to decide on the best response.’
The proposal would increase council tax by £5.30 a month for a Band C property, and £5.97 a month for a Band D. Those claiming Council Tax Reduction would be protected from the increase.
Leader of the council, Jason Kitcat, said: ‘The other parties, especially Labour, will need to decide whether they trust the people of Brighton and Hove to make this decision.
‘The Green administration I lead did not seek an election mandate to raise taxes in this way and in previous years I have opposed going down this route. But the unprecedented pressure on our budget from Westminster can no longer be absorbed, so we are seeking a democratic opinion from local residents - those who pay council tax and those who rely on the services it funds.’
In reaction to the proposal, the Brighton and Hove Labour Group has called for the administration to resign, saying residents are unable to afford the rise.
Leader of the group, Warren Morgan said: ‘We cannot support such a huge increase when people are finding it hard to meet rising bills. Instead they have handed the responsibility of dealing with the cuts to others.
‘They cannot now remain in office playing these political games rather than running the city effectively.
‘I am calling on the Greens to resign and allow a cross-party caretaker administration to run the council till the elections in 400 days.’
