Or could there be another explanation?

Yesterday's Telegraph informed us that 'Service-cutting councils are hoarding £10.8bn' and oddly that:

'The figures show that some of the biggest increases in reserves come from the Labour-led Wakefield council, which is expected to have more than doubled its cash pile from £21million to £51million by March. Labour-run Bolton council is likely to have more than tripled its reserves of £23million to £81million'

Now why might a Labour council prefer to cut services, and blame the cuts on a Conservative government) rather than dip into reserves?