I READ that Conservative councillor Douglas Stewart is proposing taking some extra money from our council tax to fund area panels. Surely by taking more money from our council tax to fund this we are going to see a Tory-led council tax rise next year or, even worse, cuts in vital services. If people don't go to area panel meetings you can't bribe them or threaten them with tax rises to do so. Surely it is better to engage in discussions of interest to them.

FAY HOWARD

Risingham Mead, Swindon