THE leader of the Conservative group at Stroud District Council has criticised remarks by a MEP who praised the council's ruling coalition.

In a BBC Radio 4 Today interview last week, Green MEP Molly Scott Cato and former Stroud district councillor said that the ruling Labour-Liberal Democrat-Green coalition running the council had been working 'very effectively'.

However, Nigel Cooper, who leads the council's Conservative group hit out at her comments saying that the coalition's 'reckless' spending leaves the authority in a 'very vulnerable' position.

Speaking to the Gazette, Cllr Cooper said: "The coalition, now in its fifth year, is sticking together, as it is in their best interests collectively.

"Of course they have had it fairly easy, inheriting a very strong financial situation from the previous Conservative administration.

"Unfortunately in their last budget the coalition chose to commit to spending practically all the council’s reserves over the next four years, with little thought apparently about how the books will be balanced after 2020/21.

"I believe this was somewhat reckless, because it leaves the Council in a very vulnerable position, unless further actions are taken to address the spiralling costs of running the council."