DEAR EDITOR - I would have thought your readers would have had enough of the private squabbles of the Bromsgrove Tories.

But seems the present Tory leadership wish to continue the saga so I am happy to oblige.

Taking up the major point raised by Cllr Griffiths, I did not impose a 27 per cent Council Tax increase - which by the way amounted to an annual increase of just £28.

The increase was agreed by the whole of the then Conservative Group that included Cllr Griffiths. A lot of soul-searching went into the decision after I arranged for two presentations to the group, by the then treasurer and the chief executive.

During 2002/3 the council received no increase in its Government grant. Yet we were given a shopping list of additional duties which we had to undertake at a cost of some £780,000. This was in addition to demands made by the council's auditors to increase our reserves, and produce a balanced budget.

"If things are that bad," said one member, "why don't we bite the bullet and go for a 30 or 35 per cent increase?"

Cllr Nick Psirides

Rednal Hill Lane

Rubery