YOUR Opinion, 'Taxing problem for councillors,' (LET, March 5), could not have been presented better by one of the infamous Labour spin doctors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is already starting from a high level council tax base. So the 'low' 4.5 per cent increase is not all it seems.

They claim services will be protected. But if council services are not to be improved and as they are at a low ebb now, why does the council need an increase of twice the rate of inflation?

Regarding the £600,000 savings through the transfer of work to Capita, is this per year or over the 15 years of the contract?

Either way, it proves that the private sector can provide cheaper services than the council and that council-run services are too expensive.

A borough of this size, with a budget of £160million, needs more than a pittance of £5million in reserve to cover any emergency contingencies -- like the feeble attempt at gritting and other unforseen events.

Is not the real reason that this Labour-run council has kept the council tax rise to just double the rate of inflation, not prudence and efficiency, but them running scared of the forthcoming election in May?

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.