HERE we go again. Huge rates rises for everyone from businessmen to pensioners. Councillors wringing their hands muttering about "lack of resources" and "cuts in services".

No-one has the gumption to look at the enormous wage bill having to be paid.

Hardly a week goes by without at least half a dozen new airy-fairy posts being advertised with salaries running into tens of thousands of pounds.

One vacancy I have never seen advertised which would make a real impact on the expenditure is what in the private sector is called a hatchet man.

R HOPKINS

Lobelia Close

Kidderminster