Keith Mitchell is less than accurate in apportioning responsibility for likely increases in council tax (Oxford Mail, December 5).

Despite his repeated assertions that a Government grant would be lost, it has in fact been increased by six per cent. If, as Mr Mitchell suggests, council tax rises by 'double digits' (December 13), this will not be due to the loss of Government money. Rather it was be the result of ineffective management by the county council of its own budget.

Although the county council is constantly talking about the need to 'raise its performance', in reality this is little more than a slogan. We have yet to see it translated into effective budgetary control.

There is no excuse for Keith Mitchell to hide behind the Government in order to conceal the incompetence of the executive he leads.

CHRIS ROBINS (Cllr)

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Kidlington