The council should stop “flushing money away” on “vanity projects” and restore vital services like public toilets, say Labour councillors.
They are set to put forward proposals at the budget council meeting on Thursday to reallocate money from projects to ensure basic services are fully funded.
Among the plans is a call for the Green-led administration to invest £1.1 million in refurbishing and restoring public toilets across Brighton and Hove, funded by diverting planned borrowing for a controversial low-traffic neighbourhood scheme in Hanover and Tarner.
Labour claims money for the project is not ring-fenced and has demanded the money be redirected while the council consults properly with residents on developing any 20-minute neighbourhoods.
Councillor Carmen Appich, co-leader of the Labour group on Brighton and Hove City Council, encouraged other councillors to back the plans.
She said: “Decent public toilets are crucial for public health, equalities, local businesses and our visitor economy - they are a basic service that the council should be investing in, not cutting and giving up on.
“Labour won’t flush public money away on dogmatic vanity projects - we will meet the basic needs for all across the city and get our council services up to scratch.
“Our budget amendments are a step in that direction, so I would encourage other parties to support them and put the needs of residents above personal pet projects.”
Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle backed the proposals and said residents “need an administration locally that will protect basic services”.
He said: “In the face of yet more devastating cuts from the Conservative government, we need to do all we can to protect basic public services in our city.
“Closing public toilets and spending over £1 million on a scheme to use cameras to fine car drivers really sums up the Greens.
“We have a fraught two years ahead of us until we can throw the Conservatives out of government. We need an administration locally that will protect basic services.”
Brighton and Hove City Council was approached for comment.
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