Sir, I see that Cumbria County Council has totally ignored the views of the people of Cumbria and is still determined to increase the council tax by an extortionate amount. The deputy leader, Mike Ash, has even been quoted as saying: "If you want a Mickey Mouse council then go ahead and pay your staff Mickey Mouse money!"

No changes there then! Even Louis Victory, the chief executive has declared that he could earn a far bigger salary than his proposed £125,000 a year if he took a position in industry or commerce. I would be prepared to contribute to the cost of his rail ticket as a leaving present.

What I find the most cynical act of all by this council was the questionnaire it produced for us to complete and offering three alternatives for a tax increase but based on how much we would be prepared to pay for road maintenance. What about all the other services? To relate its massive increases to only one service was a ludicrous gesture and can only be worthy of our contempt.

I am strongly of the opinion that there should be a change of emphasis and direction within county and district council management. The days of political direction should now end and the role of managing the affairs of these local authorities should be in the hands of professional business people, not politicians who only cater to the whims of their masters in London rather than the people they represent.

It has even been suggested that the House of Lords should consist of appointed rather than elected members. The Upper House itself may carry little or no weight but the concept is worthy of consideration for local authorities.

It is now time for the ratepayers of Cumbria to make their views known in a big, big way and preferably before the next local elections as these massive increases in council taxes cannot continue.

However, this is not a local issue by any means as I have noted that a former magistrate and High Sheriff of Shropshire has taken a major stance and is prepared to go to jail to protest against a 60 per cent increase in his council taxes since Labour came to power in that county.

It is also interesting to note that the protests against increased salaries for local authority senior officers has also become a nationwide concern. Across the country these increases have been ten times more than the rate of inflation while the council workers have seen their wages and salaries pegged at a far lower level. Whatever happened to democracy?

J. Whitehead

Windermere

SIR, Our county council has set a much-increased council tax. Could the blow not be softened by collecting it in 12 monthly instalments instead of 10? If not, why not?

R.J. Ellison

Windermere

February 14, 2003 11:30