THE main opposition group on BCP Council will put a greater focus on green projects and social care through its budget amendment proposals at Tuesday's full council meeting, it said.

Funded through a further council tax rise and the removal of more than £2 million earmarked for regeneration, the Unity Alliance said its budget was “fair, prudent and responsible”.

But concerns have been raised in the hospitality and arts sectors with industry leaders saying it amounted to “abandoning” some of the region’s biggest employers.

Agreed on Friday, the Unity Alliance's amendments include a £1 million respite fund for carers and a hold on any increase in social care charges.

It said introducing “inflation-busting” fee rises while “clapping for the NHS” would be “the height of hypocrisy”.

Separately from the budget, the Liberal Democrats will call on the council to support a campaign for a £1,000-a-year increase to the carer's allowance.

The Unity Alliance budget amendments also propose replacing the Conservatives’ £1.75 million regeneration allocation with a “green recovery fund” and a residents’ card, providing discounts and free short-term parking for people who live in the area.

“The amendment we seek is modest, honest, responsible, and prudent,” the Unity Alliance lead member for finance, Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Cox said. “It seeks to invest in the wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents, provide for a green recovery for our businesses as well as secure and even out the sustainable income stream to pay for it.”

The coalition’s amendment will be put forward during the budget debate at Tuesday’s full council meeting.

However, members of its second largest group, the Christchurch Independents, will abstain from the vote due to the proposal for a further one per cent council tax rise.

This would be on top of the average 1.55 per cent increase planned by the Conservative administration.

And the amended budget has also attracted opposition in the hospitality sector. Senior figures in the industry said it was “short-sighted”.

“The proposal to replace [regeneration] investment with a green recovery fund is just not addressing the immediate emergency,” Kris Gumbrell, the chief executive of Brewhouse and Kitchen, said. “In normal times I would completely support the council. We want to be green but we have to survive first.”

His comments were echoed by Andy Lennox, the founder of hospitality group the Wonky Table, who called on councillors to support the Conservative budget proposals.

And representatives of the Lighthouse, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Pavilion Dance South West have also objected to the Unity Alliance plans due to their deferral of £100,000 in arts funding.

The budget will be decided at Tuesday evening's full council meeting.