‘Selfish senior people’ who oppose arts cash were criticised as defiant councillors stood by spending what they say is a ‘small price to pay for a better future’. The 2024-25 budget – including a 2.99% council tax increase – was agreed at Newark and Sherwood District Council’s full council meeting on Thursday (March 7) and members voted against the Conservative’s amendment to reduce council tax by decreasing additional funding for the arts. A heated debate saw many councillors share the positive impact the arts had had on their lives and those around them, after the Conservative opposition pro…