Scrutinise council services (From Western Telegraph)

Scrutinise council services

DEAR EDITOR, - I read with interest the letter (February 23rd) headed 'Local income tax fairer than council tax'.

Mr Lye suggests that a system based on ability to pay should be introduced.

I believe that before extra burdens are placed on the already-overloaded taxpayers, the services provided by the local authority should be scrutinised to ascertain whether firstly they are actually needed and secondly they are provided at the best possible rate to the consumer.

Pembrokeshire County Council's charges are based on services that have been provided on a so- called 'best value' basis, which was imposed on the council by the Labour Government.

I would suggest that this basis works to the advantage of employees at County Hall and to the detriment of council tax payers in Pembrokeshire.

I do not know of anybody who purchases goods on a best value basis. I think a final competitive purchase price is the prime consideration.

Money has been provided for areas within Pembrokeshire, which are deemed to be deprived areas. I, personally, do not know of any deprived areas in Pembrokeshire and if any do exist pouring money into them does not seem to have solved the 'problem'.

Also money is being channelled into education, when employers inform us that school leavers are poorly-equipped for the world of work with poor literacy and numeric skills, yet the schools throughout Pembrokeshire speak of their success and the high standard to which they are educating children.

As a county councillor, I find the present arrangements at County Hall totally unacceptable, in that there is very little input from independently-minded councillors - as witnessed at the full council meeting when the chairman restricted councillors' ability to ask questions on the spending plans for next year.

COUNCILLOR MALCOLM CALVER Gleann-na-Coille, Pembroke Road, Manorbier.