ONE of the most controversial issues raised by Harold Tinworth is his question whether Labour councillors' campaigning would be made less effective by efforts to put together the least damaging package of cuts.

Writing to Mr Collins about the budget review, Mr Tinworth stated: "The solution to the problem is to change the government asap. The budget review has to be agreed on its tight timetable but has it/will it exclude, diminish the real priority for you all and how do you guard against it. ie If getting the least damaging package of cuts from 80% right to 90% right stops you campaigning as effectively as you could and are able to do would that be the right balance [sic]".

The issue was raised by Mr Tinworth for discussion by Labour councillors on the city's executive board.

Mr Collins has used his blog to strongly argue that neither Nottingham, nor any council, would use the welfare of staff or residents to make a political point.

He wrote: "I'm damn sure that at Nottingham City Council there is absolutely no political gesturing in the very tough budget decisions we've had to make as a result of the Governments savage cuts."

However, Mr Collins' political opponents argue that he has indulged in political gesturing that may have been counter-productive to city residents' interests.

Just weeks before, housing minister Grant Shapps announced how much money would be allocated to Nottingham City Homes for the city's decent homes programme, Mr Collins called him a "fool" in public.

The city council has taken a big position in refusing to publish expenditure of £500 or more in spite of Government directives, and is now the only local authority to not have done this.

Mr Collins called communities secretary Eric Pickles, the man who holds the purse strings for local government, "a buffoon".

Mr Pickles has started measures to force the city council to publish the information. He said: "If it is necessary for me to use the powers that I have to force Nottingham, I will. But why should this process be held back by one obdurate council that simply wants to play politics with transparency?"

Mr Shapps has also criticised the council for spending £600,000 on The Arrow newsletter and £200,000 on the Proud Of Nottingham campaign.