COUNCILLOR Guy Harkin is well known in the council for his ability to "talk a good talk", but his letter of March 4 takes the biscuit.

In fact, I am not sure I was even at the same council budget meeting as he was, reading his letter!

His "story" reads as though nobody opposed the Labour budget. I remind him that the Conservatives did, not only Labour's main budget, but also their subsequent amendment. It was the Liberal Democrats who supported the Labour motions, the Conservatives voted against them.

He is right that the Conservatives tabled an amendment to the Labour budget that detailed further savings and re-directions, which the Labour group subsequently "stole" and issued a last-minute amendment which included 80 per cent of the Conservative proposals. It was the Conservatives that identified re-directions to fully fund the Litter Enforcement Team, now being hailed as such a breakthrough by him and the Bolton Evening News. It was the Conservatives that identified further savings and re-directions to fund increased litter cleaning.

Councillor Harkin rightly points out that the Labour Executive are tired, and he is also right that they are in need of major challenge at the June Elections. The Conservatives will provide this major challenge.

When this challenge is won, only then will we get a full and proper look at the "books", and it is then that the proper work of ridding this council of the waste and bureaucracy currently being supported by this Labour administration and we will be able to re-direct money to the services that the public of Bolton want to see improved.

I agree that the Lib Dems failed to identify a single saving or re-direction, but Cllr Harkin should be grateful, without their support, the Labour Budget and its subsequent amendments would have been lost.

So, when a Conservative councillor or prospective Conservative councillor knocks on your door, tell them what you would like to see improved. We are listening, unlike the Labour group who think they have the divine right to run Bolton as they see fit, without any regard to anyone else's views.

Andy Morgan

(Councillor, Hulton Park Ward)