The gags come off for the county cabinet meeting!

11.28.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd May 2008

After being gagged from speaking in response to the Leader of the County Council's "State of the County" speech at the Counties AGM, opposition leaders have now had their opportunity to respond when the County's Cabinet discussed the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter.

Lib Dem County Council Group Leader Brian Hoare said: "At the Council's AGM in his "State of the County" speech Councillor Harker only spoke of the more favourable things that the County has achieved since 2005 after taking over the council. He omitted any reference to the failures and service reductions and criticism of the council by the Audit Commission and the fact that the council is in the bottom 23% of councils with the inspector's judgement that it is only "improving adequately," and that it is in the bottom 16% of councils by retaining only a two star status."

"The Tory administration took over County Hall 3 years ago with the promise of sorting out the council and providing better services to the citizens of Northamptonshire but as they enter the final year of their 4 year term the prospect of improved services before the next election look dim."

"The administration have not got to grips with the long term needs of the council and they have clearly mismanaged the finances over the last 3 years which is going to make it difficult to invest to improve services".

Councillor Hoare expressed particular concern at the combination of the star rating and the prospects for improvement. He said "not only is Northamptonshire one of the poorest performing councils assessed as 2 star the audit commission does not give residents of Northamptonshire comfort that the Tory administration is likely to improve matters. The administration is not sorting out the council and they do not deserve to be running the council following the election next year"