What would a 5.9% council tax rise mean for you?

The minority Green Party administration on Brighton and Hove City Council is proposing a 5.9% increase in council tax next year.

If it can overcome opposition from Conservative and Labour councillors, the proposal would require approval in a citywide referendum - costing up to £400,000 -  to be held on May 7 2015, the day of the general election and the city council elections.

What would a 5.9% council tax rise mean for you?

There are eight council tax bands (A-G), based on the notional value of properties on April 1, 1991.

In Brighton and Hove, the number of households on June 30 2014 was 127,295.

The council tax charge for April 2014-May 2015 was:

Band A - 27,357 households (21.5%) in properties valued up to £40,000

Annual council tax bill: £1,024.76

Band B - 28,525 households (22.4%) in properties valued £40,001-£52,000

Annual council tax bill: £1,195.57

Band C - 33,798 households (26.6%) in properties valued £52,001-£68,000

Annual council tax bill: £1,366.36

Band D - 19,363 households (15.2%) in properties valued £68,001-£88,000

Annual council tax bill: £1,537.15

Band E - 10,887 (8.6%) households in properties valued £88,001-£120,000

Annual council tax bill: £1,878.73

Band F - 4.507 households (3.5%) in properties valued £120,001-£160,000

Annual council tax bill: £2,220.33

Band G - 2,673 households (2.1%) in properties valued £160,001-£320,000

Annual council tax bill: £2,561.91

Band H - 185 households (0.15%) in properties valued more than £320,000

Annual council tax bill: £3,074.30

The band used as representative of an average household is Band D.

A number of households - about 17,000 - benefit from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which enables poor household to pay 8.5% of their council tax bill, up to a maximum of £3 a week.

In other authorities, beneficiaries of such reductions are generally required to pay at least 25% of their bill.

The minority Green Party administration has warned that a council tax increase of less than 5.9% might mean that the reductions in Brighton and Hove may have to be harsher, meaning the poorest households have to pay more.

The additional cost each week of the proposed 5.9% increase for each of the bands would be:

Band A - 99p

Band B - £1.15

Band C - £1.32

Band D - £1.48

Band E - £1.81

Band F - £2.14

Band G - £2.47

Band H - £2.97

The additional cost each week of the proposed 5.9% increase when compared with a 2% increase - the maximum allowed without a referendum - would be:

Band A - 66p

Band B - 77p

Band C - 88p

Band D - 99p

Band E - £1.21

Band F - £1.43

Band G - £1.65

Band H - £1.98