SIR – Councillor Glen Miller makes the erroneous claim (Letters, January 10) that the Labour Group had to “submit” its budget proposals to the trade unions before it could comment on them. This is based on an earlier article which misinterpreted my comments to the reporter.

For clarity, the scale and speed of the Government’s spending cuts – which affect Bradford disproportionately compared to wealthier areas – mean that the Council has to make significant reductions in the number of people it employs.

Once the Council knows this is the case, it is obliged to issue a notice to the unions triggering a statutory consultation in which the law requires meaningful dialogue to take place. This applies irrespective of the political administration.

Pre-empting that consultation by implying that decisions have already been taken on specific proposals would leave the Council open to legal challenge and possible financial penalties, which is why I couldn’t comment.

Labour’s proposals include major savings through re-negotiating terms and conditions including transport arrangements; Unions will play a key role in delivering those savings. Coun Miller’s Conservatives led the Council for a decade and failed to deliver the efficiencies and savings Labour is making. If he wants someone to blame he should look to his group and his Government whose cuts are designed to have a disproportionate effect on Councils, the North, the poorest and most vulnerable.

Coun Ian Greenwood, leader of Bradford Council, City Hall