AMONG the concerns over the budget from opposition councillors is that the Government might change the rules about using capital assets to finance revenue spending.

Cllr Mark Howell said that if the Government did change the borrowing rules the council could be in the position in a few months’ time of having to fund a £54m budget hole which, in turn, would evoke what is known as a Section 114 ruling, taking the council out of local control.

“We could end up with Government running our council and they could force the sale of our assets,” he warned – calling on the Conservative administration to have a Plan B in the event of that happening.

Other risks mentioned during the debate included staff winning a pay rise of more than 3.1 per cent which had been allowed for.

The council meeting heard that if the award reached as high as the 10 per cent some unions are demanding that would add an extra £12million in costs, which has not been budgeted for.

The start of the meeting heard a statement from union spokesman, John Hartley, asking the council to re-consider its decision not to increase the core council tax.

He said that the message it gave was that the council did not want to invest in its staff and that it would be wanting more for less.

“We deserve fair pay now, not in 2024,” he said.

Other risks identified including failing to make the expected savings by bringing council services together since reorganisation in 2019, allowing a re-investment to support services.

Several opposition councillors pointed out that the projected figures, so far, have either not materialised, or have had targets reduced.