Council tax increase? Have your say in our citywide referendum

Our city faces a crisis. In the true sense of the word: a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.

The financial future of Brighton and Hove City Council - and the services we ask it to provide - has never been more uncertain.

Over the next four years, sharp reductions in government funding - of a scale never seen before - present profound challenges.

They also thrust upon us great opportunities.

First, though, we must decide what sort of a city we want to be. To speak out, about what sort of citizens we are.

At the most mundane level, over the next five months, Brighton and Hove is at risk of hosting its own Groundhog Day, with a cast of posturing politicians who wish to repeat the unedifying charades we all witnessed during the run-up to the last budget. The Greens wanted a council tax increase that required a referendum; the Conservatives opposed - out of principle - any increase whatsoever; and Labour, with the fewest number of councillors, argued - out of pragmatism - that a referendum was an expensive luxury and a 1.99% increase was right.

Labour got their way. And then we all tried to get back to business as usual.

This year, if we are honest, we know we can't. Whatever the cast of Groundhog Day might pretend.

Even the 5.9% increase proposed by the Greens will be a drop in an ocean of under-funding; it would leave a shortfall of £21.25 million. A freeze would result in a £26.36 million shortfall.

On Thursday, Labour - which argued last year that working-class families on the estates could not afford a 4.75% increase - an extra £2.94 a month - failed with a "responsible" proposal that thousands of the poorest families in the city should endure council tax increases of 76%, or £8.32 a month (by arguing for substantial changes in the Council Tax Reduction Scheme).

So what is to be done?

Clearly, we cannot necessarily turn to establishment politicians for the bold and innovative leadership the city requires. Unsurprisingly, party hacks show every sign of being even more self-serving than usual in the run-up to city council elections and a general election. There are votes to be pocketed - and terms of office to be secured.

We can, however, look to ourselves. We can have our say now - and in the weeks and months ahead. In the pre-election period when we have the attention of politicians who want our vote on May 7 2015.

Therefore, Brighton and Hove Independent is today pledging that it will - with the help of our readers and partners - embark on the most intensive democratic consultation undertaken by a media organisation in the United Kingdom.

We will publish weekly articles, hold public meetings, and give citizens a chance to vote - online and offline - in a citywide ballot in January and February.

More details - including the date and venue of an initial public meeting - will be published on Monday.