THERE have been several recent letters regarding the inflation-busting council tax. I am both an employee of Bury MBC and a council tax payer and can therefore see both sides of the issue.

An an employee, I understand that the only way services can be protected, or enhanced, is by a substantial increase in the council tax. However, as a member of the public, it is distressing to see the waste and inefficiency, especially in the higher spending departments such as social services.

Councillors Derek Boden and John Byrne have attempted to defend the increase in council tax. They have also stated that the authority's financial reserves are now at the minimum acceptable level. Could they please answer the following:

1. Why have council departments based at the town hall recently been told by senior management that unspent money, possibly amounting to tens of thousands of pounds, must be spent before the end of the financial year? Attempts are now underway to buy furniture and computer equipment which would not have been purchased had this "pot of money" not been found.

2. If the council's finances are in such a bad state, could this money have not been put to better use? Although the sum involved would not necessarily have had an effect upon the level of council tax, why was this sum not retained in the financial reserves?

3. Are the council's auditors aware of what is happening?

BURY MBC EMPLOYEE AND

COUNCIL TAX PAYER