IN reply to Coun Mike Evemy (Letters, March 4), my criticism was mainly of his fellow Councillor Wendy Johnson, who was thanked by Labour Councillor Jim D'Avila for reading out a list of councils which had imposed large council tax increases, which implied that the council tax payers of Swindon should count themselves lucky.

I expected the Lib Dems to question the expenditure of £100,000 for extra street cleaning and £100,000 for pavement repairs.

Speaking on radio, junior local government minister Chris Leslie condemned the 15 per cent council tax increase imposed by SBC as totally wrong.

The question arises: why has central government not taken action in the form of rate capping?

FRANK AVENELL

Beckhampton Street, Swindon