SIR - The Government introduces Best Value with the aims of providing a quality service for local government and encouraged councils to save two per cent from their annual budgets.

Last year Durham County Council increased its council tax by 14.8 per cent and Sedgefield Borough by 19 per cent over the last two years.

I now read that Durham County Council's Government settlement for 2003/4 is 4.6 per cent.

May I point out that is double inflation and should not be used as an excuse to hike up council taxes. Sedgefield Borough already has the highest D Band council tax in England and many local families are suffering as a result of job losses.

I would refer readers to the Durham County Council leaflet Winter Salting Routes. Charges for 2002/3 to cover shortfalls in Government funding, particularly towards Social Services. The public would rather see money spent on road safety rather than personal computers.

During the first spell of snow and ice I received complaints from angry Spennymoor residents about the cuts to gritting routes. I have passed these complaints on to Durham County Council.

If we have prolonged periods of snow residents may have difficulty in travelling to work and thus a loss of income. The road safety concerns of the public due to gritting route cuts are my main concern.

Ben Ord,

Chairman, Spennymoor Liberal Democrats