“Kay Cutts said they were getting a reduced grant form government and based her budget on this. When she said that she actually knew that the government support grant to Notts had gone up by 5.1% or £8,531,000. Unfortunately for her someone within County Hall spilt the beans. She has now spent over £80k trying to stop leaks.”

“Lee, that manifesto did not tell us the full story.

Richard Jackson said the authority would save by pulling out of the tram, both before the election and again in September.

But in November his calculations were exposed as being wrong.

The post I believe said he had admitted as much in a private letter!

And they did not tell us at the election what the cost of the freeze would be.

If only we knew then what we know now!

Shambles!”

“Albert, Im talking about the election promise to freeze council tax. Mr Sensible in virtually every post tells us all how little it will in fact save us and goes on about a 3% rise. He seems to completly miss the point that this was a conservative election promise and personally I think the Tories should be applauded for sticking to it.

Same with the Tram, they said they would pull out of it and that is exactly what they have done and if a Tory Goverement scraps the scheme as many envisage then best out now before we waste anymore money on it..”

“Lee,

So pray do tell us what the point is?

They put together a budget based on having a certain income. They then find that their calculations were actually wrong and that they would have this extra £2m, a £10.4M underspend from last year, the full £8.5M government grant, and so on.

Much of that could have gone toward saving the cuts in support to the elderly - the increases in the costs of day care, meals, day centres, transport, and even the care homes.

But no, the almighty Kay has spoken and she's not for turning, or admitting mistakes.”

“How dare a party stick to a manifesto promise eh Mr Sensible. The Tories in Notts should be commended for keeping their promise. Its not the amount you save thats the point here sensible/albert”

“Yes, Dave, they could.

And it would mean that a Band D Council Tax payer would save a whopping 66p a month.

Wow!

Even Kay Cutts in her Band H house would only save two quid a month.

Just think what you could do with all that money. Why, there's nearly enough to buy a pint of beer!

Alternatively, they could always consider spending it on not making the cuts to the services to the elderly and those with learning disabilities instead.

But there again, nah! Sod them. It's their own fault for getting old.”

“With this latest revelation, I reckon that taking in to account that extra £2 million, by increasing council tax by 3% and scrapping the policy change on the tram which will end up costing taxpayers double the cost of supporting it, most of these cuts and possibly all just would not be needed.

Yet more evidence, then, that this budget is not about economics, but about Tory ideology; rob from the poor to give to the rich.”

“Dave, we'll soon see if you're still saying that when you grow old and possibly require the very services they want to cut; services that have up to now been recognised by a national inspector.”

“"No they should use it to either extend the tax freeze or reduce our bills...........WUM ?...... Moir?"

John, as I have already told you, the average taxpayer stands to save next to nothing from the tax freeze, and as a result of it the elderly and the vulnerable will have to pay that money and more back for services they need; they're out of pocket.

As Albert says, this is just the latest shambles.

Doubtless the Reverend will soon have an editorial on that.”

“Great - now they can go further with a much-needed CUT in Council Tax!”