AN opposition councillor has accused council bosses of being “reckless” in their spending of vital cash.

Deputy leader of Colchester Council, Tim Young (Lab), is putting forward a motion to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, to support a national Breaking Point Campaign.

It comes after government plans to cut a further £1.3 billion of local authority budgets over the next year.

The Breaking Point Campaign asks for next year’s cuts to be reversed, and for £2 billion to be invested in children’s services and another £2 billion in adult social care to stop them from collapsing.

But Lewis Barber (Con), shadow councillor responsible for resources, said money has been wasted in the past.

He said: “Councillor Young and his Liberal Democrat and Labour colleagues complain about the need to increase council tax because of central Government, but this is the result of their own binging on taxpayer money.

“They have voted down Conservative proposals to move from annual elections to those every four years, which would save the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds and could help avoid tax rises.”

He added: “Councillor Young has transferred £500,000 to the North Essex Garden Communities Ltd, which has been a disaster for Colchester.

“He’s also wasted taxpayer money on Stane Park and Tollgate Village appeals against development residents wanted.

“They’ve not published a detailed budget paper in almost six months because the reality is we’re seeing reckless spending at a local level. The cabinet is sowing its own financial problems.”

But David King (Lib Dem), councillor responsible for resources, said the council was coping well under pressure.

He added: “Our local council has managed exceptionally well to keep maintaining services.

“Although it’s getting tighter and tighter residents need to understand we have got every hope of continuing to deliver.”