Ian Bates out of the loop?

Does District Council Leader Ian Bates know what is going on at HDC? In a recent article in the News and Crier he says:

The District Council expected something else. It expected higher Government Grants than were given. True the total for 2011/12 ends up the same with additional grant. This money doesn't continue into the next year with a provisional announcement of £9.3 Million against the forecast of £10.5 million. That is £1.2 million less than predicted!