COUNCILLOR Rob Peachey's prickly defence (You Say, March 27) of his earlier proposals to increase council taxes predictably avoids the issues which I tried to raise.

All taxes are a necessary burden and if my contribution is "below average" then I expect and deserve "below average" services. I therefore resent Coun Peachey's cheap jibe that I am seeking improved services for less tax.

It appears beyond the comprehension of Coun Peachey that many of us have no particular desire for "average" or "above average" services, however "average" is defined, while strict control of expenditure is not being enforced by our elected representatives.

All council taxpayers are entitled to expect efficient and effective management of their taxes by County Hall, but in reality this control has been on a par with their "below average" income. Why, therefore, should we, or central Government, entrust them with increased revenue?

Coun Peachey's reference to a recent High Court judgement on Social Services is out of context and fails to explain the shambolic budgeting process that resulted in the £4m overspends on an £80.6m social services budget. Similar circumstances in the real world beyond the politician's dreamland would have resulted in the rolling of heads.

High-handed and insulting attitudes have historically always failed to mask incompetence in public life, however frenetic the spin (waffle) which accompanies them, and I have no doubt it will be so in this instance.

D E RUTTER,

Malvern.