"Underwhelmed" is the response from Liberal Democrats following yesterday's (29 August) Reform press conference at Warwickshire County Council.

Cllr David George Cowcher of the Liberal Democrats responded to the conference, which was held at Shire Hall, as not being what he had anticipated.

Rather than the expected talks, which would have seen leader of the council, Cllr George Finch, coming forward with clear statements in terms of the direction the administration is going and where the county is going, he described hearing "a lot of populist proposals".

Cllr Cowcher stated that these proposals would cost a lot of money, yet there was "no indication where that money is coming from."

He went on to explain a statement from the finance portfolio holder - one of the only other portfolio holders present- said that the council would be making a saving of £40 million, without clarification as to where these savings would come from.

Cllr Cowcher said: "There was a lot of discussion once again about the difficulties we've got, with statutory override and SEND provision, and basically all we're doing is going to ask the government for additional money.

"But there was no idea of what we'll do if the government is not forthcoming additional money. 

"And no real vision about other services at all, most of which were really not mentioned at all, even in terms of highways, which is of great concerns to many of our residents, particularly in the rural parts of the county, and really purely some discussion about the new highways contracts coming out, but once again, no real indication of what the parameters for that contract would be."

He concluded: "Overall, I'm fairly underwhelmed by what we've heard today, and I still have no clarity about where this county council is going for the future."