ARE TORIES BANKING AN ELECTION FUND WITH YOUR MONEY ?

3.53.34pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Jul 2008

Conservatives at Essex County Council are underspending on services and banking up millions of pounds in reserve funds, according to a new report. The report, on the council's finances for 2007/08, was discussed and approved at a meeting of the council's cabinet at county hall.

Speaking about the report, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats group leader, said: "Underspending on the council's budget and services, and building up reserve funds, is something that I have been questioning for some time with the council's administration. I'm really not sure how taking council tax from hard-working people and squirreling it away in reserve funds is of benefit to the taxpayer."

Cllr Geoff Williams added: "As there are county council elections next year, can it be that the Conservatives are banking up an 'election fund' which they can use to announce a low council tax rise and to spend on some eye-catching, but hollow, electorally pleasing gimmicks ? It is galling enough for council tax payers in Essex that our council tax has risen by 120% over the past 10 years. To then find out that hard earned cash is not being spent on the things I and my constituents would like, such as filling in potholes and providing facilities for young people, but to bolster up excessive reserve for electoral purposes is an outrage."