Blame the Government

STEVE Vickers’ letter last week makes some good points, but let’s lay the blame at the real door of the trouble – 10 Downing Street.

Mr Cameron seems hell bent on passing the buck for failings of his government onto others.

Craftily, he legislates for many expenses and costs which rightly have been shared responsibilities of national and local governments, to be the sole responsibility of local governments but with the promise that these additional costs will be paid by national government within the central grant paid to local governments.

But not only are responsibilities increased in magnitude, and are so more expensive, but also, through the general reduction in levels of grant given to local governments, results that local governments being required to finance more and more activities while receiving less and less help from central government.

This can only be good for Davey boy! He is able to lower national tax, and can claim to be heading up a ‘tax cutting government’, while blaming local governments for poor management leading to increases in local tax.

Secondly, another reason why local government is onto ‘a hiding’, is because of the increases in household council tax; no one, in local nor national government, will admit to the stupid and archaic system we have where a tax is collected based on the value of a property and not on the users of council services.

Presently, the number three and more adult households is growing at a frightening rate increasing the demand on the services being provided.

Unfortunately, the cost for these services is being financed by the two-adult households.

That two-adult households should be responsible for financing the needs of third and fourth adults in households is insane.

People who live in the area and use the services provided by the council should all pay their way. Bob Bee by email