The Conservatives today (7 December 2004) threatened to keep all information about next year's budget secret until budget day in February, because the Liberal Democrats dared to question the leader's undemocratic personal budget.

In a bitter exchange of words, a rattled Lord Hanningfield told a stunned meeting of councillors, that because of this motion he will consider concealing all information concerning the allocation of next year's budget until the full council next meets in February. It is usual practice for the administration to release the proposed budget to the council's cabinet, two or three weeks before the formal announcement on budget day.

Ken Jones, Liberal Democrats group leader said, "For the leader of the council to suggest that the council reverts to a more secretive accounting practice than at present, is naïve and dangerous. This outburst was provoked by the Liberal Democrats proposing that the leader's unallocated budget is discontinued on the grounds that it is undemocratic - something we have long argued for."

"It is quite astonishing that someone of Lord Hanningfield's position and experience should react so violently towards our proposal," Cllr Jones added.

Date: 7 December 2004