I CANNOT allow former Labour leader Trevor Porter to get away with his comments regarding the finances of Bromsgrove District Council.

During the four years of the Labour administration, the reserves of the council were raided to the tune of £2.3m.

This enabled that administration to implement programmes that were plainly not affordable.

If that was not enough, the council tax rate was increased by more than 30 per cent. That is the problem we now have to face, with a miserly £22,000 increase in the rate support grant from this Labour Government.

At the same time we are expected to provide an additional £1m of extra duties.

The auditor's report, which Labour makes such a song and dance about, also recommends that the reserves have to be built up to their previous levels.

The reserves were depleted by Labour to such an extent they cannot be put right during a single financial year.

Cllr Nick Psirides,

Leader,

Bromsgrove District Council.