MUCH wailing and gnashing of teeth in recent weeks over the city council's budget bunfight.

It seems some parties aren't prepared to accept any reduction in the arts darling while those closer to power are keen to keep any council tax rises down.

One of the more interesting suggestions, put around by local MP Hilton Dawson, is to put the budget to the public.

And what a good idea it is too -- if you can set aside concerns about spending £100,000 to discuss ways of saving cash.

If we're going to do it, let's do it right.

Let's give the public a long list of every non-essential service the council runs and let the voters decide what should stay and what should go.

That would be a fine example of local democracy in action and would lead to some interesting budget decisions.

What we actually got on budget day when left to our elected officials to fight it out was a cross between Carry on Screaming and Waiting for Godot.

But, therein lies the reason the people of Lancaster won't be getting a referendum even though Mr Dawson thinks it might be a good idea.

By tradition, politicians only hold referenda when they can be sure of getting the result they want -- witness the Scottish and Welsh plebiscites.

For all their fine words, Lancaster's politicians will not follow the lead of their Bristol counterparts by opting for a poll because of fears there may be an outbreak of common sense!

I don't think the public would find it too difficult to choose between clean streets, empty bins and play areas for the kids or men in tights and Sydney the Seagull.

I see Pravda's been at it again - jumping through red hoops like trained poodles. Their top dog dribbles the Labour mantra like a Moonie with Foot in Mouth disease.

Fortunately for local people - already confused by the fact that their council tax hasn't increased by 60 per cent as some predicted - this aging organ grows more flaccid by the week. Thanks to them it was also interesting to learn that we now know just who to blame for the council's blame culture!

Forget hard news - the Pravda poodle is just a barker and has a pretty toothless bite.