I AGREE with much that the Rev Barrie Duke said in his letter, (January 1). Police representation is missing in rural areas.

The extra revenue raised during 2003/4 is providing extra police cover in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay. This was said in a statement made by a police officer at a meeting I attended in September last year.

Where I disagree with Rev Duke is when he implies that councils set the budget for police funding. Local authorities, ie West Devon Borough, are the agents collecting the demands of Police and Fire Services as well as Devon County Council, Town/Parish and their own revenues, the problem being that central Government continually alter the formula by which funds are made available to local authorities from the Treasury.

Our council tax could be much lower if central government negotiated directly with Police and Fire and came to an agreed settlement, then gave local authorities adequate funds to provide the services that are mandatory for them to provide.

I see little comfort coming with the 2004/5 council tax demands. The ?scrooges in power? have reduced funding to West Devon Borough Council by £173,835. However, I have not heard that they intend to cut the £1.3-million every hour of the day they pay from our taxes to the European Union

Cllr Dave Weeks

UKIP Party

Courtlyns

Exbourne