JUST one vote stopped members of Abergavenny Town Council from demanding the resignation of MCC 's leader. In a political vote, the conservatives won with just six votes to five in favour of not writing to the chief executive asking for councillor Crump's resignation over the "appalling" underspend of almost £2 million.

Councillor Frank Olding called for the resignation saying he was angry that MCC acted so "shamefully" over the budget and said councillor Crump should resign "imminently." He said, "The service the council provides impacts on our lives. We are constantly told the council is under financial stress and last year we went through the process of seeing some staff, some who sat in these meetings, being made redundant.

"There was headlong panic, people throwing together redundancy packages with no time to discuss the future of museum services and staff. It was guillotined through.

"We have gone from budget balance, to overspend to underspend in six months. It would be laughable if it was not so tragic, more than 40 people lost their jobs. This is not good governance it is incompetent.

"The price is not being paid by this generated underspend but by decent, hard working members of staff who pay tax.

"This includes the £600,000 in social services, any underspend in that area is disgraceful."

Councillor Olding referred to the Chronicle's story which revealed MCC were happy about the underspend.

He said,"Councillor Hood made me angry when he defended it by saying it was good governance. I think he should hang his head in shame for saying anything of the sort. "People like the stone mason who lost their jobs have family and mortgages, councillor Hood can be cock-a-hoop about good governance, he does not have to face unemployment and worry how to pay the bills.

"Councillor Crump says he is not known for his sense of humour - he is not known for his political governance either. I think councillor Crump should resign it is that serious there is a moral imperative. Like a commanding officer sending his troops into the fire, watching his soldiers go into death. People have been sacrificed. Could one family have been saved the agony of the job losses.

"I know what it is like when the main bread winner losses their job. MCC have put 40 families through that awful process and people have to take the responsibility for the pain they put people through.

"I would like this council to write to him and express our dismay at the lack of financial competence."

Councillor Chris Woodhouse said: "People have been instructed to live within their means. Social service changes all the time, thank god we have not had big numbers going into care but we must have the money there in case.

"The money will go into much needed reserves like a new county hall. Next year there is a £7 million shortfall. The WAG have said well done, you are an example of the way it is going to be. Redundancies we are sorry for. Years ago we had a landslide, we eventually got money for it but it shows that reserves are vital."

Councillor Olding said 'sorry' was not good enough for members against the redundancies.

"How can anyone stand up after the year we had and say 'sorry we are underspent'.

"Someone should say 'I am mortified we sacked staff,' not 'we regret it.'

"I feel angry the only forum we have to vent sheer frustration is here. I hope to God the public take the opportunity to vent their frustration at the next election."

The casting vote was six against five for not requesting councillor Crump's resignation.