THE TORY failure to produce an alternative spending plan for Kirklees Council was greeted with shock today.
Liberal Democrat council leader Kath Pinnock accused her rivals of abdicating responsibility.
The Examiner revealed yesterday that Tories are refusing to make proposals of their own when tax levels are decided next week.
The party's leaders said they would not debate minor changes when the bigger picture was ignored and labelled the debate "political theatre".
Clr Pinnock said: "I am astonished that the Conservative leadership have abdicated their responsibility to the people of Kirklees and not produced a budget.
"They have participated in all-party budget briefings, meetings and discussions.
"It looks to me as if they have chickened out of producing a budget that would stand up to any investigation in the harsh light of day."
The Liberal Democrats are the largest party on the hung council with 24 seats - two more than the Tories. Labour has 18, Greens three and the BNP one. There is one independent.
Liberal Democrats, who control the council Cabinet, are proposing a 5% Council Tax rise.
Labour wants the same increase, but is proposing different spending.
Clr Pinnock said: "For years the Conservatives have made tissue paper promises about how they would cut council tax and improve services without providing evidence of how this can be done. This year's failure to produce a budget is yet more evidence that the group is not fit to run the council."
