"You've got to pick a pocket or two..."

Colchester Council is set to use £250,000 of taxpayers’ money to increase its pensions contribution as it battles against a £51million blackhole.

In other words, rather than face up to the deficit, it's going to steal from its council taxpayers...

As staff contributions do not cover the cost, the rise is roughly the equivalent of an annual 2.5 per cent council tax hike for residents.

Which would bring the hammer of central government down on them. So they won't do that, they'll do this instead.

How's that for sleight of hand?

Paul Smith, councillor responsible for resources and diversity, said: “We are having to look at the pensions fund every year, and how the blackhole looks depends every year on different things.”

Such as how profligate you've been with our cash?

“For instance, if it has been a good year, and we have had people retire and not so many new staff arriving, then it will not affect it too badly. ”

But the recent years have been a bit of a boom time for local council leeches, haven't they?

“It also depends on how our investments have done. Last year, the deficit was £51.939million and I think that was quite good because we had a good year with investments.”

Ah. Right. We're back to the Iceland debacle again...

The shortfall this year for Braintree Council increased by £14.736million and now stands at £61.311million.

Maldon District Council’s pension fund deficit has increased by more than £5million.

And they will go on raiding the coffers until nothing is left...