The Conservatives have unveiled a vision for Brighton and Hove in a policy document called Towards A Shining City By The Sea.

But Brighton and Hove City Council opposition leader Brian Oxley and his team of Tory councillors are making no glib promises about how they will get there if the city council changes control.

They want to have less interference by the council in people's lives, giving them the chance to make their own decisions.

Tories want to reduce the rate of council tax rises and stop the authority acting, as Coun Oxley puts it, like an army of occupation.

The Tory leader said: "You will not find lavish promises in this document, destined to turn into bitter disappointment after polling day next year."

Some of the main points are:

FINANCE
Tories would do all they could to limit further rises in council tax by negotiating hard with the Government and ending what they call an obsession with political frills.

Coun Oxley said: "We view people's earnings as theirs to spend as they will and not a treasure trove to be raided at will by politicians.

"We would also rather see more realistic capital spending plans that can be delivered on time, rather than grandiose blueprints which are not worth the paper they are written on."

The document says: "We shall relentlessly pursue those who do not pay their council house rent on time. The almost £2 million in arrears is a scandal and will be addressed vigorously."

Modest rises in spending are proposed on more trees, flower beds and reinstating Hove tourist information centre.

EDUCATION
Headteachers would be given greater freedom to run their schools in their own way. Popular schools would be expanded to meet parents'

preferences. Heads would be supported in removing violent and disruptive pupils from their schools but ensure that excluded pupils received full-time help.

SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH
Tories would try to stop the misery caused by bed-blocking by enhancing residential care, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and a whole range of services by adapting underused sheltered housing.

They would support privately-run care homes, viewing them as a genuine asset in providing care for vulnerable people. The document says they would look at providing more resource centres in local communities to offer a wider and more convenient range of services.

THE ENVIRONMENT
Tories say: "We know residents and visitors are tired of the scruffy look Brighton and Hove has and we will act, from day one, to arrest the physical decline of the city. We will assist householders and businesses in fighting graffiti and flyposting. We will help victims of graffiti with limited, small grants to help them clean up their premises."

Property owners would be pressed to ensure their assets were kept clear to give streets a better appearance.

TRANSPORT
Tories say: "Labour's war on the car in Brighton and Hove will be stopped. We believe some simple yet effective changes can be made to road layouts which will improve the ability to move around the city."

Proposals include amending the junction layout at York Place and improving the exit from London Road car park. They believe urgent changes are required to the traffic controls at Brighton station.

Tories say the council should invest in Pool Valley coach station, adding: "Despite the best efforts of the current management, the first and last view of the city for many travellers is a bleak spot with little shelter from the wind and rain and limited toilet facilities."

Tories would look for extra park-and-ride sites, perhaps including Shoreham harbour. The party says council officials should look at providing more underground car parks, perhaps at Brunswick Square and Hove Lawns.

More bus routes could be provided in partnership with Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company and electronic bus information should be extended across the city.

Several restrictions on taxis should be lifted so they could use more bus lanes as an integral part of the public transport system.

Tories would look at reducing carparking charges, speeding up reviews of parking schemes and tackle obstructive parking.

They would work with policies to remove abandoned vehicles quickly and move on traveller vans that are dotted around the streets.

HOUSING
The party does not back council stock being transferred to a housing association or being retained by the authority but says a mixed provision would help tenants best.

Tenants would be balloted on any option put forward by the council.

Tougher action would be taken against neighbours so that lawabiding tenants could live in peace.

Support would be given to the private sector to help solve housing problems in the city. Priority would be given to housing local people while those from outside the area would be given help to find homes in areas with more room.

LAW AND ORDER
The party would take a tough stance on crime, encouraging police to tackle minor as well as major offences. They would press for a beat officer in each area and a ban on illegal public drinking where required. They want a tough stance to be taken against travellers occupying parks and open spaces.

PLANNING
Conservatives would abandon Labour's proposed policy of 40 per cent of any private development of ten homes or more being low-cost housing. Instead they would say there should be an element of lowcost housing in any scheme of 25 homes or more. They would be flexible about letting flatlet houses be converted into family homes.

CULTURE
The Royal Pavilion would be marketed more vigorously. Tories want a new ice rink in Brighton and Hove.

They would explore the idea of a flower festival to coincide with the Brighton Festival, extending the Volk's railway to the marina and restoring the seafront bandstand.

They would overhaul the city's grants system so money would go to all the many deserving local community projects in Brighton and Hove.

Coun Oxley said: "We want a council that gets the job done while letting people get on with their lives."