County councillors were reeling today when a leading Tory County Councillor called a £300k overspend ‘petty cash’ and said it was ‘nit-picking’ to raise it’.

Malcolm Cowan, Liberal Democrat Opposition Resources Spokesperson asked the Cllr Keith Emsall why there had been a £300,000 overspend on the new Watford Fire Station. Cllr Emsall’s reply to the meeting was that Malcolm was ‘nit-picking’ and £300,000 was ‘petty cash’.

Malcolm commenting on his answer said: “I was astonished: clearly the Tories live in a different world to the rest of us. £300,000 is the equivalent to ten trained social workers, more than the price of an average house and clearly not ‘petty cash’.”

Malcolm added: “It is no wonder the Tories have been slated by the Audit Commission over their financial reporting if this amount of money is seen as irrelevant and not worth discussing.”