It is difficult to understand the attitude of the council in not taking the same line as all other district councils within Lincolnshire as well as many others throughout England, particularly when a county grant has been offered – and taken up by our neighbours.

The waffle being put about by spokesmen as to why it is not being implemented at this time is, to say the least, weak.

A similar scheme, ie tokens and vouchers, has been in place for a while past and this would allow a pretty good "guestimate" of the likely take up in the coming year in the knowledge that an initial surge would flatten out over a period of time.

It does appear a little odd that a reported £17,000 in the first year, to assist elderly and disabled people, has been spurned while – as reported in the Mercury – the money has been found to fund, at a total cost of £180,000, the improvement and modernisation of the Deepings Leisure Centre.

Of course we are not aware of the total cost of any of these things and fully understand that there are priorities to consider but we are all tax payers in one form or another and have a voice that should be heard and appropiate action taken.

It is very difficult to listen whilst continually being told that, "if we do A then B must wait", or, "we must set priorities" but then reading that the allowances, travel, attendance etc payments made to councillors, have moved or will be moving in an upward direction.

When a high-ranking council official can go off on a six month jaunt – albeit unpaid – and his work/ responsibilities are covered by two other officials, it does strongly suggest that at least three high-ranking officials are seriously under employed, thereby offering scope for a huge saving in salary and on costs.

Perhaps at the next council meeting where savings are on the agenda this will be seriously given much thought and corrective action taken. Somehow I do not believe this will happen.

Mr I Seager
Kohima Close,
Bourne