And the answer is.......

4.95% with a band A propertys across the district paying £690.33 p.a band D at £1035.49 and band H properties at £2070.99 p.a.

And a difficult and uncomfortable day was had by the controlling group opposite.

It was their budget based on years of Labour policy, a significant shortfall from central government, sequencing issues linked to job evaluation and equal pay and they had to deploy their block vote to get it through.

The leader of the council did his usual bit of pseudo sincerity followed by amazed blustering, when we did not immediately fall at his feet.

A number of Labour councillors stood up and blew off steam about the 1980's and the miners strike, all this in response to a comment from Bryan our group leader about their tendency to live in the past and focus on past conflicts and hard times.

Absolutely amazing...

They have the mandate at this point to inflict this budget and the leader of the council found himself having to talk about steps to reduce staff cuts and protect front line services as his group voted this through.

Not a lot was made of note 3.7 on Agenda Page 2

"Council note that the 2008/2009 budget is presented based on existing organisational arrangements and that the budgets will be re-aligned during 2008/2009"

The whole thing is based on shifting sands and there will be more pain to come as we get further into the financial year.