LABOUR has hit back at claims by Tories that they are already making their mark on Selby District Council - awarding them "nul points" for their first month in power.

Labour councillors say that money saved in the housing budget was due to Labour group policy and that many reforms are the result of a report prepared by a Labour group consultant. Labour group leader Jack Crawford said that comments by Tory leader Mark Crane that they were remaining faithful to their manifesto promises were inaccurate. "All talk before the elections, no action after the elections.

"My score for the Conservatives' first month in power, zero out of ten. Could do better and must do better for the residents of the Selby District."

In yesterday's Evening Press, Coun Crane said that the Tories were reducing bureaucracy and putting more money into services for local residents. But Coun Crawford argued that a decision by the Conservatives to make a number of temporary council positions permanent already committed them to a six per cent increase in rates next year. He also criticised Conservative and Independent members of a small cross-party group to campaign to extend the life of the Selby pit after they failed to attend a presentation by UK Coal last Friday.

"Only Coun Brian Marshall and myself turned up. Coun Steve Shaw-Wright was on holiday and sent his apologies. It was something they were banging the table with before the election."

Coun Steve Shaw-Wright also criticised Coun Crane's comments and said that a new partnership with Selby College, which had secured external grants to improve changing facilities at local football grounds, was actually started 12 months ago.

"They are merely using the results of Labour group policy."

Updated: 12:54 Tuesday, June 03, 2003