IN response to Mr Boaden (Your Letters, April 16,) and to correct a popular misconception, I can assure readers that there is no connection between rent arrears and council tax.

The housing revenue account is "ring fenced". That is to say it neither supports nor receives support from the council tax fund.

With regard to rent arrears, no one is satisfied at the level but what is reported is an accumulation over several years. There are many reasons for the arrears - including downright dishonesty - but strenuous efforts are made to recover debt and we will continue to do so.

Just to add some perspective, the total amount of rent due in 1997-98 was £19,346,000, most of which was collected.

Moving to the council tax rise of 7.7 per cent, it is certainly above the rate of inflation in percentage terms but represents an average of 82p per week. And Bury still has one of the lowest council taxes.

I can also assure Mr Boaden that the improvements which we are bringing in this year are not "one-offs". The extra street cleansing, better maintenance of parks, anti-dog fouling measures, safer children's play areas and increased education funding are all affordable and sustainable. Indeed, in announcing the council budget proposals I stressed that we had to stop setting a one-year budget and, instead, plan for a least three years ahead. This we have done.

COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE,

deputy leader of the council.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.