I believe that the Council has an obligation to spend the money it has wisely. This is especially true when resources are scarce. I do not support squandering money on vanity projects such as a Bristol Underground (which with a price tag of £4.5bn will never be achieved), payoffs for ex senior executives, hiking the cost of the Mayor’s office or communications team and pouring tens of millions of pounds into an ailing energy company.

I believe that money should be focused on the front line providing valuable services to residents. All too often we have to campaign to protect local amenities facing the chop whilst money is being frittered away on daft ideas.

I will always argue that the Council should provide value for money for local taxpayers.