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Darlington Council Budget Date: 28/02/2010 After months of planning , reviews and scrutiny Darlington Council elected members were presented with the Labour Cabinet's budget proposals for the next four years. Unlike previous years budget setting when they ignored all the signs of pending economic crisis this year they had to take their head out of the sand and recognise the realities of economics. Unfortunately for them it is an election year so council tax was high on the political agenda with a decision to freeze tax this year. This left a gaping hole in the budget when added to other spending cuts which had to be filled and a staff redundancy plan was the chosen solution. Needless to say the Council tax after this year and for years to come will once again increase , we find this both questionable and cynical. Nevertheless the Liberal Democrats voted against the plan , the whipped in Labour members voted for the plan and the Conservatives who applauded the tax freeze but considered the four year plan unworkable abstained. Cllr Wallis under the illusion he was at a Labour party hustings unfortunately lost track of the proceedings and was shouted down. The Mayor banged his gavel once or twice to return to order in the ad hoc exchanges