THE LABOUR administration has been criticised for failing to deliver on a key manifesto pledge to help the council work better with businesses.

Brighton, Hove and District Labour vowed to set-up a dedicated team of council officers to create a one-stop shop answering business queries in their 2015 election manifesto.

One year on since their election victory, The Argus can exclusively reveal that no dedicated team has been set-up with the council merely in the “early stages” of creating a supporting business programme.

Opposition councillors described the lack of progress as disappointing while business owners questioned whether the council had the necessary expertise to assist companies.

The news comes in the same week as a top business figure criticised the council’s “bad attitude” to business.

Crunch Accounting managing director Darren Fell said the council had failed to offer sufficient support over infrastructure and office space.

Labour’s “contract with Brighton and Hove” released ahead of last May’s local elections promised to increase council support for local businesses by setting-up a dedicated team to speed up interactions with the local authority.

Council officers are in the early stages of creating a “supporting business” programme with research completed into support offered by other local authorities, its cost to taxpayers and benefits to businesses.

The council defended its support for firms including new move-on spaces for start-ups in the refurbished Hove Town Hall and investment to help businesses apply for licenses and permits, make payments and access business support more easily.

Council officers said that 752 city businesses had assistance from the council-supported Coast to Capital Business Navigator in the second half of last year.

Conservative group leader councillor Geoffrey Theobald said the lack of progress was disappointing and he also called for the service to be expanded to Greater Brighton when eventually up and running.

He said: "How the council works with business is crucial – not only in terms of creating new jobs but also in bringing in more business rates.

"If I was running a business in London and wanted to relocate to Brighton and Hove I really wouldn’t know who to speak to – there needs to be an obvious, high profile point of contact."

Council leader Warren Morgan said: “Despite the tens of millions being cut from our funding by the Conservative Government, we remain committed to delivering our manifesto pledges.

"We have achieved many in our first year, made a start on many others, and will ensure that support for local businesses is maximised."