A ROW has broken out after City of York Council's opposition leader claimed that roads, bridges and buildings could be left unrepaired due to the "collapse" of planned asset sales.

Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Steve Galloway said that the council's failure to sell, among other things, housing land at Osbaldwick, the Foss Islands Road depot and the Tanner Row car park, meant many maintenance programmes would have to be shelved next year.

But his claims have been dismissed by the council's leader Coun Rod Hills and its director of environment and development services Roy Templeman.

Both rejected claims the deals had fallen through.

Coun Hills said: "This is typical Liberal Democrat propaganda based on fiction rather than fact.

"Work is continuing on all three sales and one is very close to completion."

But Coun Galloway claimed: "This reveals the final collapse of Labour's capital funding policies.

"The future of many of the city's buildings and roads are under very serious threat as all ongoing maintenance programmes are set to be shelved.

"Liberal Democrats would like to see this expenditure maintained, if necessary by releasing some of the council's reserves."

Coun Galloway also said the Lib Dems would "certainly" consider a five per cent council tax increase to fund council work - but only after a full public consultation.

Coun Hills, however, said cash for capital programmes can come from the sale of a range of assets, not just the three mentioned by Coun Galloway.

The ongoing process to sell the Barbican, and land surrounding it, was a "classic example," he said.

"There is a range of assets we are in the process of selling, but I am not going to flog those assets off at knockdown prices. It is about getting value for money and the best deal for the taxpayer."

Mr Templeman said: "The budget for next year hasn't been decided yet. What is contained in the capital programme depends on funding from a variety of sources, including capital receipts. We are saying, do not commit to something unless funding is in place. That approach is no different to that taken in previous years."

Updated: 10:09 Friday, December 14, 2001