The Alternative Budget for Brighton and Britain

12.00.00am GMT Wed 26th Feb 2003

The Liberal Democrat alternative budget would free money for the reopening of the Pool Valley Coach Station.

Lib Dems promise action for Poole Valley, new Tourist Information Centre for Hove and reopening of CAB offices in Council Budget proposals.

At today's City Council Budget Meeting the Liberal Democrats will move that funds are provided for a major regeneration of Pool Valley to ensure that the ticket office reopens and visitors are welcomed to the city in a fitting way. The Liberal Democrats are also proposing that Hove Citizen's Advice Bureau is given funding to reopen its doors permanently at Hove Town Hall and that a dedicated Tourist Information Centre is also reopened in Hove.

The proposals are fully costed and will be funded by a reduction in councillors' allowances following the drop from 78 to 54 councillors from May and a funds from the council's PR department.

Lib Dem City Council Group Leader, Councillor Paul Elgood said: 'The Liberal Democrats in the city are seeking to reverse the damage Labour have done in the last few years. We are reopening the doors Labour have closed in areas such as Hove's Tourist Information Centre.'

Lib Dem Deputy Leader, Councillor Dawn Davidson said: 'We are making a major commitment to re-open and regenerate Pool Valley. We want it to be a welcome venue for coach visitors to the city.'

The plans come on top of this week's announcement that every Council Tax payer in the country would see their bills cut by £100 under proposals outlined by the Liberal Democrats, in Parliament.

To make the tax system fairer and simpler, the Liberal Democrats today published their Alternative Budget with proposals to give every Council Tax payer in the country a refund of £100, funded by national Government.

This would be a short term measure pending the complete abolition of the Council Tax and its replacement with a fairer Local Income Tax.

"The Council Tax is an unfair tax. It hits pensioners particularly hard." said Councillor Paul Elgood.

"The Council Tax takes no account of people's ability to pay, so a nurse or pensioner can pay more than a multi-millionaire."

Average council tax rises across the country this year will be the highest ever. These large rises will mean average council tax bills have risen by over £400 under Labour.

"Now with the Liberal Democrats' national budget plans, we would be able to cut £100 off every council tax bill this year, in the run up to replacing council tax with a fair tax related to people's ability to pay. Gordon Brown could do this now, if he adopted national Liberal Democrat plans."

Local Lib Dem Council Tax proposals are based on:

1. Allocate £75,000 towards the regeneration of Pool Valley.

2. Allocate £75,000 towards the reopening of Hove Tourist Information Centre.

3. Commit £100,000 additional spending to voluntary sector grants, ringfenced towards the permanent reopening of Hove CAB offices.

Total: £250,000

To be funded by:

4. Reduction of £200,000 in Members allowances.

5. Reduction of £50,000 in the Communications budget.

Total: £250,000

National Lib Dem Council Tax proposals based on:

1) The Liberal Democrats have produced a fully costed alternative budget which includes the introduction of a 50% tax on any incomes over £100,000 a year to pay for the council tax cut and the abolition of student tuition fees.

2) The introduction of a system of local income tax is a long standing Liberal Democrat policy and was supported by the independent Layfield Enquiry of 1976.

3) A system involving Local Income Tax was supported by several Labour MP's including David Blunkett and Jeff (now Lord) Rooker.