I totally agree with Councillor Warren Morgan concerning the Green Party’s priorities when making cuts in the budget for the city (Letters, February 1).

No doubt people will be asking, “What would Labour do?” Simple, look at their past record.

In the 1980s and 1990s when Labour ran the council they faced cuts too. And for those who aren’t old enough to remember or for those who have forgotten, the recession was just as damaging then.

Labour succeeded by downsizing bureaucracy, increasing income, making no compulsory redundancies and, importantly, by protecting frontline services – precisely the services that will be affected by the Green Party’s savage cuts.

During this period the Labour council survived rate capping, the poll tax and the appalling cuts of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

In 1997 Labour brought about the merger that created a unitary council bringing education, transport, highways, fire, social services, libraries and waste disposal under direct control for the benefit of everybody in the city.

Except of course we weren’t a city then – that happened under the Labour council in 2000, which has immeasurably benefited local and big businesses and tourism.

What is lacking now is the kind of strategy, purpose and vision that Labour delivered when they were in power.

The Green Party has been forced to make U-turns, which some may say is admirable. But what we need is a party which is decisive, fair and rational – a party that can responsibly represent this beautiful, fun city we are proud to live in. I believe Labour can do that.

Adrian Morris, Queen’s Gardens, Brighton

Coun Morgan’s letter (Letters, February 1) is yet another example of empty, misleading messages from the Labour Party.

Just on the issue of management costs for example, we’ve taken more than £2.5 million out in management and admin costs this year, with much more to go in the next two. Furthermore, senior management costs are the lowest they’ve been in years.

Rather than attempting to muddy the waters by quoting the old debate on last year’s budget-setting, why won’t Labour explain to the public how they expect to pay for their own plans?

So far, according to their public statements, they have racked up millions in additional council costs through their promises.

Their support of the Tory tax freeze alone will cost Brighton and Hove City Council £5.4 million over the next two years. Next year that will be the equivalent of a third of our children’s centres budget or the entire preventing homelessness budget – which will they cut to fund the freeze?

In other parts of the country some Labour councillors (and even Tories too) have had the integrity and bravery to stand up to the Tory con trick that is Eric Pickle’s tax freeze.

They have chosen to explain to the electorate why as a one-off grant it fundamentally undermines the future tax base for councils.

Some councillors, like Greens here, are working hard to protect services in the face of what we expect to be more than 40% funding reductions until 2017/18.

Labour councillors locally either need to explain to residents what they will cut to pay for their promises; or find the integrity to stand up to a Tory government intent on ruining local government.

Councillor Jason Kitcat, cabinet member for finance and central services, Brighton and Hove City Council