Ed, It was bemusing, and a bit disappointing, that the tabled report indicating the list of services that Clarence Valley Council obviously regards as discretionary (Independent 10 May 2017) included cemeteries and legislated requirements such as meeting aged and access needs. Surely no responsible and reasonable elected representative would see such a range of services as optional. One does not expect such scaremongering tactics from elected officials… and particularly given the absence of reference to the ballooning costs of the ‘super works depot” and the potential for reining in the associated debt of this project. If the elected council representatives cannot manage the budget responsibly without denying the essential and expected services that any council should provide, maybe it is time for a competent and fiscally responsible administrator to be appointed. Dr Lynda Kriflik