IN response to the letter from David Allen in last week’s World, I wish to assure you that Labour councillors in Halton have been doing all they can to protect services the council provides to the most vulnerable members of the community.

In trying to protect adult and children’s social care the council has had to reduce other services.

We have had to reduce library hours and close the mobile library service.

Charges have been increased for certain services and new fees introduced for services such as green bin collections.

We have reduced the frequency of grass cutting and cut the bus subsidy budget.

Less money is available for the highway maintenance budget.

Area forum funds, which provide money for community initiatives, have been reduced and two Halton Direct Link offices have shut.

I do not class these as ‘less worthy services’ as they are all important in their own right. However it demonstrates the position the council finds itself in and the difficult decisions it has to make in dealing with severe cuts imposed upon us by the Government.

With regard to allowances for councillors, these are set by the council based on recommendations made by an independent remuneration panel.

Cll Rob Polhill

Halton Council leader