REIN ON AUTHORITIES TOO TIGHT

I refer to the report that social services to vulnerable people such as Christine Edwards (News Shopper, January 30) may be cut.

Only a small part of local authority expenditure comes from council tax, the rest from grants, from general taxation, and successive Governments have kept local authority expenditure on a tight rein.

We could have better services for our tax if the Government would cease our £30 million a day membership fee to the European Union.

John Youles

Beckenham

LOW TAX - YES, BUT BE REALISTIC

I have followed the News Shopper council tax campaign and recently attended a council-led public meeting on the budget.

I was impressed by the presentation and have a better understanding of council's problems.

I still shudder thinking of a 12 per cent rise but I was one of those who thought that a single-figure rise (five to nine per cent) was reasonable.

After all, school pupil numbers don't increase by the rate of inflation and household rubbish is going up five per cent each year. Low tax yes, but be realistic.

NAME AND

ADDRESS SUPPLIED

WE MUST LOOK AT THE FIGURES

While appreciating the News Shopper's stance, regarding increases in council tax and cuts in public services, it is hard to be objective by raising individual cases without looking at the overall facts and figures.

Could you publish the main areas of Bromley Council's income, expenditure and reserves over the last four years and ask councillors to justify and explain what has gone on?

I believe that only when we have a clear view of the whole picture can we judge.

Tim Fox

Beckenham