THE front-page article "Large tax increase inevitable for council" (EA Dec 4) is factually incorrect. The Audit Commission's report does not refer to Swindon Borough Council it tends to generalise by region and it does not state that tax increases are inevitable, merely that increases are one tool to bridge the gap between funding and expenditure.

An extract stated: "Our report finds there is insufficient countervailing pressure to keep council tax increases down. This came in part from the perceived reduction in the threat of capping, but the main reason was that double figure increases in council tax were no longer seen as exceptional."

In essence, there is no political will to reduce expenditure or spend wisely.

Without wishing to quote the report verbatim there follows the conclusions of the report's summary:

1. "The conclusion is that budget increases were justified. Authorities faced a combination of pressures; national and local cost increases, increased demand for services and government requirements. They also had their own local priorities to meet."

2. "There is however, a difference between increases being justifiable and increases being unavoidable. Authorities have choices about which priority growth areas they fund, what budget reductions they agree, and the charges they raise for services. They also can feel under more or less pressure to deliver efficiencies."

It seems that the above reflects the position in Swindon. The council seems confused between the priority list and the wish list.

In the same edition of the EA, we have Jemima Milton stating that £2m is needed to keep Social Services at the level it is now; and yet we have the council considering spending £1.5m sprucing up Lydiard Park (the remainder of the £4-4.5m funded by the lottery, commission and businesses). Which is more important looking after the elderly and those in need or dredging a lake that has been silted up for 30 years?

In the last few years the council has wasted millions on non essential things . . . £2m on the Park and Ride at Pipers Way which remains three quarters empty most days; £500,000 per annum subsidising the empty buses from the Park and Ride; £125,000 on traffic lights at the Croft Road/Newport Street junction; £500,000 a year subsidising Steam plus hidden subsidies such as free parking when special events are on; £500,000 subsidising a loss making private company known as Swindon Town Football Club.

Despite the significant windfalls the council has received from selling some of the family silver (Brunel Centre, car parks, various bits of land) they still cannot balance the budget.

Who gives the authority for the departments to overspend?

Councillor Milton states that "people can't have a low council tax and keep all the services."

I disagree. If you cut out all the inefficiencies, do not waste resources on fanciful ideas, focus on the priorities and plan sensibly for the medium term its surprising how far the money will go!

COLIN BOWERMAN

Wroughton