YOUR readers will know that for some time we have been trying to establish the truth and understand the figures banded around concerning the amount of money given by the government each year towards local government finance and how much the county council says it requires to maintain local services.

The amount for 2002 has been announced as an increase in the government's contribution of 6 per cent over last year. The increase in the council tax is already being put forward as 10 per cent. In the last four years the county council has received 6-7 per cent increase each year, making an overall increase of about 25 per cent.

At the same time the council tax has increased by 55 per cent if the proposed increase for 2002 is included. Yet we still read in the papers that £4.5-million is to be cut from Devon County Council's social services budget, over the next two years.

As always the most vulnerable people in the community to suffer will be the older person, who is unable to improve the situation except by hand-outs from the government based on means tested benefits and who are the generation who have contributed most to the country being fourth in the economic table of the world. This generation still contributes to the economic strength of the local community.

As with the NHS the answer to problems in local government seems to be to throw more and more money in the pot and to reduce the services. Local government finance must be altered so that all who make use of the services pay for them, and not just those who can least afford it.

We would urge that you badger your MP and county councillor to support our aim to involve the Minister for Local Government and the Pensions Minister to sit down and talk with us now, before the figures are set in stone for 2002.

A G Venison

Chairman

Devon Action Forum

6 St Mary Close

Axminster