THE sound of a doleful violin solo was all that was missing from the politicos' speeches at County Hall when it was revealed that Worcestershire County Council had taken the wooden spoon in the funding stakes last month.

Worcestershire was the county with the lowest increase in Standard Spending Assessment for 2001-2002.

It seemed the council had topped the duffers' league table yet again. Someone in Whitehall must hold a grudge against the shire that gave the world the music of Sir Edward Elgar.

But what's this in everybody's favourite publication, the Local Government Chronicle? An excerpt from last month's journal says: Councils affected by re-organisation in 1998 will receive a maximum of just over £37m in 2000-2001.

Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong told MPs 16 councils would receive extra support this financial year to help them cope with the ongoing costs of re-organisation.

Worcestershire County Council will gain the most support, with a maximum approval of £4.471m. Five councils, including Malvern Hills District Council, did not submit bids for funding.

True, the amount's small beer compared with the SSA. But it appears our councillors wax lyrical when the county lags behind in the funding tables, yet keep a rather lower profile when central Government comes up with the goods.