Council rules of debate could plunge tonight’s big budget debate at Walsall’s Council House into chaos claims a senior councillor.

“There is significant opposition to the budget recommendations being put to council tonight by the all Conservative nine member Cabinet” said Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Shires. “There are at least two alternative proposals from opposition groups and therein lies the rub, the rules of debate at meetings of the full council are strict and reflect the fact that whoever is the administration has a majority. The Conservatives do not have that luxury” said Cllr Shires.

Following the Local Elections last May the Conservatives seized control of Walsall Council with help from UKIP and Independent Councillors. The Conservatives have twenty five seats on the sixty seat Council. Labour are the largest group with twenty seven seats, UKIP has three seats, Liberal Democrats two and there are three Independents. Do the maths, with no one having a clear majority all options could fall.

                            Cllr Ian Shires

Earlier this week in an attempt to find common ground the Liberal Democrats broke ranks and published the main thrust of their alternative budget. “There is no doubt that there is some common ground between our alternative budget proposals and those of Labour” commented Cllr Shires.

Any proposals put to council tonight have to produce a balanced budget to be legal. At the time of going to press we are not aware of any other proposals which have passed the Finance Officer’s scrutiny.

“Unless there is a breakthrough before 6 o’clock tonight then we could be in for a long meeting lasting well into the night” concluded Cllr Shires.