Residents in receipt of Council Tax Benefit in Brighton and Hove are being sent letters by Graham Bourne, Head of Revenues and Benefits, Brighton and Hove City Council. These charming communications advise that some people will have to pay up to a further £156 per year in Council Tax.

The letter states that "This will apply even if you are currently getting full Council Tax Benefit, or a disability benefit". So, some people may face increases of about 300% in the amount of council tax they pay.

The council will be issuing bills on 21 March and the letter states that, "If you do not make payments on time, we will take recovery action and this is likely to cost you more". There is then an attempt at intimidating people to set up a Direct Debit to pay their council tax.

It has been noticed that the council has granted licenses to a number of new bailiffs. It appears that they are expecting a large number of recovery actions against people for this.

Let us not forget that this council colludes with organised crime. Huge numbers of alcohol licenses are granted to people/concerns who sell illegal alcohol. A trip round the city will reveal how many outlets have alcohol licenses, a vast amount in all. The council acts to promote drinking alcohol and encourages alcohol abuse. A recent report compiled by the City Medical Officer states that the problems with alcohol abuse are costing the residents of the city £107 million a year.

This council allows organised crime to profit at the expense of residents and those who suffer due to the availability of alcohol which encorages them to abuse it.

The council is corrupt and expects the poor to pay while organised crime profits from their failure to provide a duty of care.

There is a need to act to redress the balance and clean it up.