Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The budget-setting meeting will be held at County Hall tomorrow.

Starting at 10.30am, councillors have been warned to expect a long meeting.

Usually, full council meetings are completed by about 3.00pm. However, for this meeting we have been warned that the meeting will continue into the evening. Tea, apparently, will be served at about 5.00pm!!

Several amendments to the Conservative budget are expected but, to be honest, debating them will be a waste of time. The Conservative group at County Hall can out-vote the Independents, Lib Dems and Labour combined so we all know what the result of any vote will be. Forget common sense or logic - simply vote how you are told to by your party or suffer the consequences afterwards.

Was it Voltaire that commented on the futility of abstract speculation?