Last ditch attempts to protect local services were scuppered by Lib Dem councillors at last night's meeting of Vale of White Horse District Council. Conservatives, led by Cllr Matthew Barber, proposed postponing the budgetsetting by one week to investigate properly the suggestion of moving theWantage Local Service Point (LSP) into the Wantage Civic Hall. This motionwas defeated by the Lib Dems, but only narrowly. Their majority was slashedfrom 15 to 3, with a number of Lib Dem councillors voting with theConservatives or abstaining. The final result was that the Vale Council tax will increase by 3.9% andfront line services will be cut. The Wantage LSP will close, the grantsbudget has been cut for at least a year, and parking charges will increaseacross the district. Cllr Barber commented after the meeting, "We have tried to be constructive,offering a way of saving money and protecting services, but the Lib DemLeader said at the start of the meeting that he had made up his mind, andwould not consider any alternatives."