MR Watts' letter (March 12) berating the council for the 6.5 per cent council tax increase also called for improvements in council services.

I agree with him and so do those people who took the trouble to tell us what they thought during the round of budget consultations we held before making our decision. That's why we put up the council tax rather than cutting services in order to secure a smaller tax increase.

If we had gone for cuts, highways maintenance, which Mr Watts mentions, would have borne the brunt along with maintenance of parks and public open spaces. That is because we are prioritising education and social services, not only because that is in line with the Government's wishes but because we agree that those services have to have priority.

The problem, as ever, is funding all our other services which do not command priority in the Government's funding of local councils.

That has not stopped us looking for savings as we have every year. This year we have managed to find savings worth more than £3 million (equivalent to 6 per cent council tax). Because of our success in collecting council tax we have been able to put a further £560,000 (1 per cent) to offsetting council tax by a further per cent.

And, even after the 6.5 per cent increase, Bury's council tax is still the second lowest in Greater Manchester.

COUNCILLOR DEREK BODEN,

deputy leader, Bury MBC.