Yesterday we reported that Brighton and Hove City Council had more than doubled its spending on foreign trips despite a cash crisis. Here, council leader Ken Bodfish hits back.

ONE thing is now clear from yesterday's edition of The Argus.

If Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Barnard ever ran anything in this city, our restaurants and hotels would close, unemployment would rocket and council tax would still go up. Because most of the council's money is spent on people. And people, frankly, are an expensive commodity.

His absurd attack on the council's relatively small investment in our tourist and conference trade is deeply misleading, as is the attempt to link it to a rise in council tax.

Let's look at how the council's budget really works.

The majority of the tax goes on education and looking after children and older people.

Most of the reasons for the increase in the year ahead are because of extra spending on schools, social care and health, particularly caring for children with disabilities. At the same time we have cut the costs of bureaucracy by £6 million.

Next year we will spend more than £100 million on schools, an increase of £7.5 million. The vast majority of this money is on the salaries of our teachers.

We will spend almost £16 million looking after children, an increase of £2.8 million. This is for fostering and adoption, child protection and support to children with disabilities.

We will spend almost £48 million on adult social care, an increase of £6.3 million. This is for looking after older people, either where they live or in different forms of respite care.

However, what do these huge figures mean in the real world? The stories below are real stories.

Case histories:

Child one was taken into care after being sexually abused by a stepfather. Four foster placements broke down due to violence by the child to carers and children. Thirty assaults were recorded. To manage behaviour, it requires two adults at most times of the day. A residential placement was needed. Cost: £291,000 a year for intensive care and education.

Child two has significant disabilities. Parents have a long history of neglect and lack of co-operation with professionals. The child displays very difficult behaviour and may have been sexually abused. During the week he attends a boarding school in Kent. He now spends weekends and holidays in an agency children's home. The child requires two staff members to manage his behaviour. Cost of placement: £104,000 a year.

Case three. We also took into our care three siblings whose parents had never looked after them properly. The children did not attend school or any health appointments. They had scabies and nits and their physical development was years behind what it should be. After being taken into our care they told us they had been sexually abused by members of their extended family. The cost of their independent fostering agency placement is £114,000 a year. The children are attending school, have put on weight and are much happier.

Mrs X was wheelchair dependant and reliant on others for all her daily needs. Her husband was her main carer and wanted his wife to be cared for at home. The team looking after Mrs X included social workers, occupational therapist, district nurse, GP, carer's relief, home care and other care. An intensive home-care package included four visits per day, with two carers being needed on each call when moving Mrs X. Support for her husband included respite care and a sitter service at home to allow him to go out during the day. We successfully supported all the family and enabled Mrs X to remain at home as her family wished. Home care package - £18,200 a year. Electronic bed - £6000. Electronic hoist - £1500.