BUDGET BUNGLE

Salford council was forced to adjourn its Budget debate, after Liberal Democrats needed advice on what their alternative proposals meant.Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry described the Lib Dem budget bungle as 'a shambles'.Lib Dem finance spokesperson Cllr Joe O'Neill spoke in the debate to urge his alternative proposals to the Council meeting. But when it came to the vote, he could notsay what the wording of his amendment wassay what impact it would have on the council taxsay how £2 million savings would be madeCouncil deputy leader Cllr David Lancaster said: "This is a discourtesy to the council. How can we vote on something that we don't know about?"He moved an adjournment so council finance officers could meet with Lib Dems to explain to them what their budget meant. After a 15-minute break the Lib Dems proposed a 0.56p cut in the weekly bill.The ruling Labour group's budget was overwhelmingly approved. It keeps the Council Tax rise down to 3% for council services.Finance spokesman Cllr Bill Hinds said: "I am confident that we will have one of the lowest tax increases in the country, achieved without compulsory redundancies or service cuts".