Conservatives today accused the ruling Lib Dems of wasting taxpayers' money and raiding cash reserves to balance the books, despite planning an inflation busting rise in council tax.
The Tories have proposed only a 2.9 per cent rise in the city council tax precept this year, a balanced budget and increased services on the ground, such as grass cutting, road cleanliness and rural transport.
Meanwhile the Lib Dems are proposing a rise of 4.9 per cent to pay for what Conservatives say is too much administration and too little cash for much needed services to local people.
Conservative Group leader on the city council George Beckett said: Yet again we are presented with a budget which concentrates resources on the already top heavy management and administration of the authority while cutting cash for the visible and needed services on the ground.
Once more the budget does not balance even with a tax increase of 4.9% and the Liberal Democrats still propose to use the reserves to fund this year's expenditure.
"This rise is, of course, conveniently just below the capping level set by the Government, but about twice the increase in the income of the elderly, who are hard hit by council tax rises every year.
"Only the Conservatives offer a balanced budget for the city council, less council tax, less bureaucracy and better services and we hope the electorate will give us a chance to show what we can do in this coming May's local elections."
21st February 2006