Sam Acourt accurately describes the events at the South Hams District Council budget setting meeting, Lib Dem budget tweaks shot down by Tories, March 2.

The Conservative Leader of the council put forward his proposals for the budget for 2018-19 and the increase in council tax.

In my speech, I said the Liberal Democrats agreed with many of the Conservative plans, but we had suggestions which we thought were improvements. The aim of our ideas is to support our communities and build genuinely affordable houses.

Not a single Conservative councillor spoke about our ideas. Instead, they voted as a block to reject them.

At the least, I would have liked to have heard their objections and to engage in debate. It is at the least discourteous.

We had put a lot of effort into our suggestions. It is arrogant in the extreme and frankly insulting that, without exception, the Conservative councillors sat on their hands and did not speak.

Why do they think they are councillors? Surely it is not to sit in silence in meetings.

The people of South Hams deserve better.

Cllr Keith Baldry

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group and leader of the opposition, South Hams District Council