Sir, Councillor Matthew Barber should choose his words more carefully when commenting on the Vale's sound budget. He says the council should concentrate on keeping the council tax as low as possible: perhaps the council's position as the eighth cheapest district council out of 238 English districts is not good enough.

Perhaps Mr Barber would prefer us to have a rate equivalent to Tory South Oxfordshire, which is well over ten per cent higher than the Vale's charge. Perhaps residents are better informed than Mr Barber might like to think.

Tony de Vere (Lib Dem) Vale district councillor