RAY Turner (Letters, March 15) seems to have a rather limited grasp of local government finance and the range of responsibilities of the varying tiers of government.
He wants Eastleigh to become a unitary council because county councils are increasing their precepts.
County councils, like Hampshire, are responsible for the hugely expensive personal social services which are bound to grow in cost with an ageing population. Those costs grow far faster than rates of inflation and faster than Government grants.
He would do well to note that when you compare like with like, i.e. county council against county council, Hampshire sets the lowest precept of any county in the south-east region, despite getting the lowest grant per head in the region.
When you look at district councils it is clear that Fareham and Test Valley both levy significantly lower council taxes than Eastleigh Borough Council and that's before you start to look at issues like the high charges they make for services.
ROY PERRY, West Wellow.
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