I WAS appalled to read that there is every likelihood of there being another large increase in the council tax for the year 2004.

Didn't we old age pensioners suffer enough last year when we had a swinging 11 per cent increase and at a time when the rate of inflation is at its lowest for donkey's years at about 2.5 per cent or so. This is the rate that is used when assessing our pension increase but which seems to fly out of the window when the council is working out the new rate of council tax. It all seems so disgustingly unfair.

I see that central Government is giving our local council a 4.9 per cent increase over last year's payment. (Once again above the rate of inflation) but they seem to be upset because they have not got the five per cent that they say other councils have received.

The Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford has announced that the government will punish councils who raise their council tax by more than 12 or 13 percent, but Clr Paul Kenny has already had the temerity to state that we would not be looking at increases beyond that, and I would hope not! I would like to know just what figure Clr Kenny has in mind for 2004 and suggest that if he raises it beyond four per cent he will have problems with the electorate, especially the pensioners. They will just not be able to pay it as a lot of them are already going hungry and some are dying of the cold despite the Heating Allowance provided by central government.

One solution to the problem would be for all councillors to be in full-time employment apart from acting as councillors and for the Ombudsman to take a look at the amount that certain councillors are claiming in expenses. There are rumours of certain members claiming £50,000 and £60,000 expenses.

I say that there are rumours and perhaps it is high time that the whole system of councillors' expenses was looked into just as everyone else's incomes are investigated in order to scotch or justify these rumours. Why not publish the annual amount paid to councillors as expenses and then we will be able to see whether or not we are getting value for money?

Just how many of our councillors have another form of full-time employment? How many of the council's employees have had an annual increase in their salary in excess of the rate of inflation? Did anyone connected to the council in any way receive increases of 11 per cent last year to attempt to justify the 11 per cent increase on our council tax bills last year!

Warrington Council 'Be warned - we have had enough of your profligate ways!'

B HOWARD

Strawberry Close

Birchwood