Do Rugby’s Top Tories ever speak to each other?

Former Labour Prime Minister, Tony Blair, set up the cabinet system for local authorities in the hope that this would lead to joined up government - see http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/974060/rugby-cabinet-or-council .

Is this working in Rugby?

An analysis of the papers being considered by the Cabinet on 5 January 2015 would suggest not.

On the one hand we have the Council Tax proposals - see http://rugby.lib.dm/a9RH2. You might expect that these would be steered through by cabinet member for Resources and Corporate Governance, Cllr Helen Walton. However questions about Rugby's finances are normally answered by the conservative group leader Cllr Michael Stokes.

On the other hand we have the proposals for the 2015 Rugby World Cup - see http://rugby.lib.dm/a6RH1 . These are the responsibility of the cabinet member for Economy, Development and Culture Cllr Heather Timms.

However there are worrying discrepancies between the two papers. The Council Tax proposal paper is suggesting that the Council should raid the "Business Rates Equalisation Reserve" by £16,000. However Cllr Timms' department is planning a £330,000 raid on this account. The Council Tax proposal paper is suggesting that the Council should raid the "Budget Volatility Reserve" by £54,000. However Cllr Timms' department is planning to use all £290,000 set aside in this account to fund the Carnival of Rugby.

What will happen when everyone comes face to face on 5 January 2015?