BRIGHTON and Hove Council last night set the lowest council tax in Sussex, but only after a fierce political dogfight.

The Labour-led council set a tax of £652.01 for Band D, a rise of nine per cent. It will also spend an extra £12 million on local services this year, including £3 million on schools, £2 million on housing and £2.2 million on community care. Tories claimed the council could have cut charges and spent money on vital services such as more public toilets. But Labour said the future impact of a Conservative alternative budget would be disastrous for the towns. Both sides held rival photocalls with banners and posters outside Brighton town hall before the meeting. The Brighton rise will be lower than in most parts of Sussex. For the first time councillors and the public were given a high tech presentation of the budget using computer graphics. Coun Lynette Gwyn-Jones, who chairs the finance committee, said: "These figures show how well we have managed the town's budget on behalf of the people. Council leader Lord Bassam said: "Our themes have been keeping taxes as low as possible while improving the quality of our services." Extra money will also go towards transport projects, a noise patrol service, more food safety checks and better recreation. Coun Bassam claimed the council's performance was encouraging millions to be invested in the town by private enterprise. Opposition leader Geoffrey Theobald said the council tax increase was swingeing and added: "It is going up by nearly three times the rate of inflation. "This is the highest tax rise ever in the history of Brighton and Hove." Tax levels agreed are: Band A, £434.67; Band B, £507.12; Band C, £579.56; Band D, £652.01; Band E, £796.90; Band F, £941.79; Band G, £1,086.68; Band H, £1,304.02.

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