Budget complaints are dismissed as ‘bleating’

Addressing East Riding Council, Coun Steve Parnaby said early action had spared the local authority from having to take drastic knee- jerk actions. Although around 145 jobs will go over the next two years – which is 1.4 per cent of the council’s total workforce – front-line services, he said, would be protected.

Coun Parnaby said: “Yes we make mistakes like everyone else but overall are well run, well managed, well organised and above all financially stable.

“I therefore have to say that I have little sympathy for the bleating and moaning I have heard both locally and nationally about public expenditure.

“If all the authorities had taken some of the measures we have taken – particularly in the early days of this council – then many of them would not find themselves in the predicament they are currently in.”

Meanwhile Harrogate Council has ditched several controversial proposals in its budget despite needing to claw back £574,000 in savings.

The council had discussed charging disabled drivers for off-street parking and hitting community groups with a steep increase in rental fees to use the Royal Hall, but both were scrapped in yesterday’s budget announcement.

A council spokeswoman said it was looking at making some redundancies from Harrogate International Centre and the waste collection team – although they are not expected to be compulsory – as well as scaling back on flower beds and closing car parks early to raise more money.

In Kirklees councillors have drawn up a range of cost-cutting measures, including reducing road repairs and selling off council buildings.

Next year’s budget will not include closing any libraries, museums or sports centres.