Peter Halliday (Letters, November 24) asks for simple answers, so let me give them.

Yes, our three budgets increased Tendring Council’s share of council tax by an annual average of 2.65 per cent – which means 22p a week more per household than in 2007 (nearly half of which Councillor Halliday voted for).

Not only did that help to finance a continued improvement in our services, such as retaining weekly waste and recycling collections and upgrading our leisure centres, but also maintain the strong position of the council his administration is able to piggy-back on now.

Yes, there were under-spends of around £1million, but he well knows that is a situation which happens every year, including this one.

Money is allocated in one year and spent in another.

We also have other cost pressures which are funded every year. So, it is not really an under-spend in a way most people understand.

Turning to previous savings and councillor Halliday’s other, wilder comments, let someone independent of both of us tell the truth about the “spendaholic tendencies”

of the previous administration.

“The council delivers high-quality, low-cost services and targets its resources to priority areas. Spending is kept within budget and investment made in priority areas, which is underpinned by an effective medium-term financial strategy.

“The council uses cost information and benchmarks its costs and services against other councils, where it is clear that it will add value. It consistently delivers efficiency savings.

“Budgets and performance are carefully monitored and effective action is taken if spend or performance starts to vary from what is planned.”

That was the verdict of the Audit Commision, in June, 2009.

David Lines
Leader
Tendring First Group
Tendring Council
Fourth Avenue
Frinton