I think I may have come up with a novel scheme which may aid our cash-strapped council.

Why doesn't council leader Kevin 'brave budget' Small get together with our beloved Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon 'prudence' Brown and arrange for all senior citizens' pensions and any future rises to be paid straight into the coffers of Swindon borough council?

Then every Christmas morning we could queue up at the Civic Offices with our begging bowls to collect any pittance that may be left.

Think of the expense and paperwork this would save. Another bonus for the council is that some of us may die and go to meet the Great Tax Man in the sky, in which case they could keep our money and put it into a separate City Status/New roundabouts account.

Surely this idea should be considered by a full council meeting if they can all be there, of course.

W NEWSON

Cricklade Road

Swindon