by Alan Watkins

Finance chiefs repeatedly warned the chief executive of Gravesham Borough Council there were too many assumptions and optimistic predictions in the council's budget plans.

Their concerns about the parlous financial state of the council only became known this week, three months after he retired.

His successor, David Hughes, shocked councillors on Friday night, warning them the council is heading for a massive overspend.

His predecessor, Glyn Thomson, is now working for a deprived inner city parish in Liverpool.

He was not at the extraordinary scrutiny committee meeting to hear directors and chief officers tell councillors how their mounting concerns were ignored.

One, assistant director Julia Gibbs, said she lacked the key evidence to go over his head and tell councillors.

This week she sparked crisis discussions and a political blame game by taking the unprecedented step of calling a special council meeting next Tuesday.

Its task - to revise the budget and save an immediate £610,000.

Next year's budget will pave the way for £4m of permanent spending cuts to Gravesham's £13m base budget within three years.

It is because staff have not resigned as expected, car park income is down, valuable planning applications have dried up, and the council's award-winning Towncentric information centre may have to close, officers warned scrutineers.

Details of the cuts and price rises may be delayed for a month while new financial information is studied.

Meanwhile, staff recruitment (apart from two new traffic wardens approved this week) has stopped, temporary staff are being laid off, and car parking charges should rise in the new year.