Everyone and his seems to have commented already on the painful progress of Reading’s Budget debate. Round 3 is on Monday evening following the council meetings last week which both finished after 23:00 with no agreed budget.

My own take on all this is that Labour are as arrogant as ever, with no serious consultation prior to the council budget debate, even though they are a minority administration and reliant on other parties to agree it. The Tories have not a clue of any budget details, but only keep up a mantra of ‘no increase in council tax’ with not even a hint of what might need to be cut from council services.

I guess that Labour will be forced to make an accommodation with somebody if they want to continue in Administration. Should they fail or lose a vote of no confidence then the Tories seem remarkably unwilling to take up the reins. All of which leaves the good citizens of Reading in limbo as far as council tax rates are concerned.

I suspect that Monday evening will be another long one.