In an embarrassing set back for Rick Everitt, Labour’s new Cabinet Member for Finance, the changes he made to the Conservative budget were yesterday sent back to the Cabinet for reconsideration by the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Panel. Labour Councillor Ian Driver joined the Conservative Group in voting for the plans to be looked at again.
Shadow Member for Finance, Martin Wise stated: “I am pleased that the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Panel recognised the prudence of the Conservative budget. They saw that Cllr Everitt’s decision to reduce the safety net which we had carefully preserved to protect the council and taxpayers from future funding and economic uncertainty was a mistake and needs to be reconsidered. I hope the Cabinet takes this opportunity to do so.”