SINCE he is an accountant, Andrew Watson knows that the city council's inflation rate is far higher than the retail price index.

Cost rises beyond the council's control include pay rises determined nationally, £380,000; building repairs, £43,000; rate rises, £17,000; diesel fuel, £37,000; new licensing/environmental rates, £71,000; CCTV maintenance, £10,000 and many more which raise costs above £1m that are unavoidable.

This is not an r.p.i. use of 2 per cent. It is 10 per cent.

If we want litter wardens plus a hit squad to clear up Worcester's worst-affected areas, that is £130,000 extra.

The Conservative administration also proposes to pay for the King George V park warden and community/youth groups which the Safe Worcester Partnership will no longer fund - a further £60,000.

The city council has made large efficiency savings, including £300,000 on senior staff salaries and office costs. We plan more in procurement and sharing service delivery with other councils.

The council aims to preserve vital public services and give value for money so taxpayers on fixed incomes like pensioners are not hit hard. But central government does not support us.

Worcester does have the highest grant in Worcestershire - but Worcestershire's grant is one of the lowest in the country.

That is why we need fair funding for Worcester.

COUN FRANCIS LANKESTER,

Worce

n SINCE he is an accountant, Andrew Watson knows that the city council's inflation rate is far higher than the retail price index.

Cost rises beyond the council's control include pay rises determined nationally, £380,000; building repairs, £43,000; rate rises, £17,000; diesel fuel, £37,000; new licensing/environmental rates, £71,000; CCTV maintenance, £10,000 and many more which raise costs above £1m that are unavoidable.

This is not an r.p.i. use of 2 per cent. It is 10 per cent.

If we want litter wardens plus a hit squad to clear up Worcester's worst-affected areas, that is £130,000 extra.

The Conservative administration also proposes to pay for the King George V park warden and community/youth groups which the Safe Worcester Partnership will no longer fund - a further £60,000.

The city council has made large efficiency savings, including £300,000 on senior staff salaries and office costs. We plan more in procurement and sharing service delivery with other councils.

The council aims to preserve vital public services and give value for money so taxpayers on fixed incomes like pensioners are not hit hard. But central government does not support us.

Worcester does have the highest grant in Worcestershire - but Worcestershire's grant is one of the lowest in the country.

That is why we need fair funding for Worcester.

COUN FRANCIS LANKESTER,

Worcester