Highland Council Budget decisions undemocratic?

"HIGHLAND Council's latest budget decisions failed to allow proper scrutiny, costing or consultation, critics claim.

They accuse the ruling coalition of Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors of not fully costing its 2011-13 programme after a series of spending U-turns on the eve of a final budget debate on Thursday."

More criticism of the ruling administration in the Press and Journal today. The recent decisions will no doubt reverberate all the way to the ballot boxes in May. Meanwhile in limbo, now that the Highland Council has withdrawn funding, are the talented students from the National Center of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton. Let's hope a solution can be found that will allow this facility to continue in the Highlands. Here are the students protesting at Glenurquhart Road last Thursday.