What absolute rubbish!

There is not one whit of evidence to show that the appalling state of the council's affairs is due to any lack of co-operation between political parties. The sad truth is that the current mess is entirely due to the incompetence of the Labour administration ever since the council achieved unitary status in 1997 and took over the education and social services functions from Wiltshire County Council.

It has been over-ambitious and has failed to prioritise. As a result it has overstretched its management and has taken on commitments without sufficient consideration of their financial impact. The situation has been aggravated by the reduction in senior management and by the very poor funding which the council receives from central government.

None of this has anything to do with inter-party co-operation, and Coun Small should have the honesty to accept the responsibility as that of his party. The Labour administration is still in control, Swindon's two Labour MPs seem unable to assist the borough's financial position, and there is still a Labour Government, which is now telling the administration what to do namely, live within its means. It is the same rule that is followed by most prudent households, and I cannot believe that it is a route that cannot be followed if the Labour administration are prepared to live within their means too. It does not demand co-operation, but some common sense would help.

(Dr) CO LISTER

Councillor for Abbey Meads

Whitworth Road

Swindon