Panic budget

I READ with interest the letter from LibDem Council Leader Mark Gayler and Cllr Stephen Jones attempting to justify the panicked budget proposals put to Uttlesford District Council. It now appears they are claiming it was the intention to set a budget at

I READ with interest the letter from LibDem Council Leader Mark Gayler and Cllr Stephen Jones attempting to justify the panicked budget proposals put to Uttlesford District Council.

It now appears they are claiming it was the intention to set a budget at two per cent since last summer. Can they explain why council officers and councillors were not told this?

Had they done so, months of budget preparation may have been dealt with differently instead of officers acting on instructions to prepare a budget based on a 4.5 per cent increase. I could only speculate how much money this has wasted.

Had a budget been prepared as Cllr Gayler is now saying he would have liked, it would not have led to his last minute raid on the financial reserve.

When the Tories are back in office we will set budgets, using the council's resources and tax payers money to the greatest effect in order to achieve the targets for key front line services.

Jim Ketteridge

Conservative Group Leader

Uttlesford District Council