TAKING past performance as a guide, should any credence be attached to the proposed council tax increase of 13.1 per cent put forward by council finance officers?

This figure presumably includes a built in amount as a cushion against their incompetence.

The scandal of the flawed takeover of decrepit schools and the bankrupt pension fund, from when Swindon attained unitary status in 1997, has cost council taxpayers £91m to date.

With such a shocking performance record I am amazed that they consider themselves competent to put forward their extortionate tax increase for the coming year.

Swindon council taxpayers can only hope that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will if necessary, and as promised, knock a few heads together.

FRANK AVENELL

Beckhampton Street