Opposition parties were tonight putting forward radical alternatives to Brighton and Hove City Council's budget.

The Labour-controlled council's ruling Cabinet proposes a 10.9 per cent rise in council tax.

Meanwhile the Tory group's alternative budget proposes a 7.5 per cent rise by saving £2.3 million while Liberal Democrats are attempting to reverse what they said were savage cuts.

Among cost-cutting ideas suggested by the Conservatives was the closure of a countryside centre which would lop £40,000 from council spending.

They have discovered that each visitor to Foredown Tower on the Downs in Portslade is subsidised by £25.

One of the biggest proposed savings put forward by the Tories was £100,000 on the policy and communications budget, mainly by cutting down on glossy leaflets.

The same sum could be saved by reducing the number of consultants employed by the council while another £100,000 could be cut by axing two assistant education directors.

The Tories also wanted £75,000 saved by deleting the council's contribution towards the European Capital of Culture bid.

They said £500,000 would be saved on reducing the numbers of families in temporary bed and breakfast housing while the same sum could be saved on efficiencies in waste collection and street sweeping.

A further £100,000 could be saved on the budget for travellers and £250,000 on deleting a special fund set up for the council's main priorities.

Tory leader Brian Oxley said: "We think we can lower the increase of taxation while providing less waste and greater efficiency."

The Lib-Dems were proposing the reversal of more than £600,000 of cuts by making other savings, including cutting back on communications and councillors' allowances.

They say this would allow the authority to reinstate several cuts including those in the library book fund, the closure of two bowling greens, trading standards and on-street lighting repairs.

The Lib-Dems would also increase spending on grants and stop reductions in highways maintenance.

Group leader Paul Elgood said Labour was putting front line services at risk.