Copy of letter sent to Julia Drown MP: I wish to draw your attention to the following.

The agenda for the cabinet meeting (Wed Mar 5) which I attended, containing the budget proposals, included the following item.

£100,000 for additional street cleaning. The leaflet sent by SBC to every council tax payer entitled "How your money is spent" contained the following item: £200,000 for extra street cleaning.

Junior local government minister Chris Leslie speaking on local radio (Mar 6) condemned the 15 per cent council tax increase imposed by SBC as totally unnecessary.

The question therefore arises why has central government not imposed ratecapping?

FRANK AVENELL

Beckhampton Street

Swindon