I WAS surprised to read Cllr CATHY Mitchell’s comments in the leaflet with our council tax bills about the shortage in government funding, referencing care services in particular.

Perhaps we should thank Lynton Green, WBC’s deputy CEO, for his contribution to an article in Public Finance (the journal of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy), which provides a rather fuller picture.

The article describes government financial support which helped protect UK councils during the first year of the pandemic.

This, it says, enabled some councils to pay significant sums into reserves.

It adds that this aid helped the costs of some contractors – including (specifically) providers of adult social care.

To quote Mr Green, ‘they see local authorities as having extra money’.

CHRIS HAGGETT Penketh