This comes at a time when the Local Government Minister, John Healey MP hasstated that there is an expectation that increases should be "substantially lower than 5%", the level at which the Government apply capping.

 

Commenting on the proposed budget Cllr Ross Grant said "The new administration has very quickly reverted to old habits. The easiest thing to do is to increase Council Tax, the hardest is to maintain control of the budget, find savings and to prioritise."

 

"There has been a lack of leadership, too many items on a wish list and no prioritisation. This is on top of the administration losing control of the 2007/8 budget and not delivering efficiencies whilst buying off the unions."

 

The budget will be put to Full Council on February 20th.

 

*Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister Question, Wednesday 23rd January 2008.