Councillors have recently been told that Gedling Borough is heading for a £498,200 overspend on this year's budget. This enormous overspend is the only one we can remember in the last 26 years. It's taken Gedling's ruling Tories just 15 months of slackness to turn a financially sound council into a financial mess.
The news gets worse.
Every year Gedling's Leisure Department increases its prices for the use of its leisure centres, pitches, etc. Last year it put up the prices by too much and takings dropped by £85,000!
Days before Bedford Borough Council is set to decide on whether to support the project to build a giant waste incinerator near Stewartby, the Liberal Democrats have re-affirmed their opposition to the plans and set out the four key reasons why they believe the project must not go ahead.
The Liberal Democrats have chosen Diane Appleby as their candidate for the Ashford East by election to be held on 23rd October 2008.
Gordon Brown is trying to present a clear message about the dire economic situation facing Britain, -'none of it,' he says, 'is his fault it is all down to international events beyond his control.' This of course contrasts very strangely with his claim that from 1997-2007 the (credit fuelled), economic boom we enjoyed was all because of his actions as Chancellor and none of it was due to international events!