SIR – You recently publicised how small is the additional grant from the Labour government to the county council – only about half the rate of inflation. That alone would have a worrying effect on council tax rise and the level of services. However, I hav

SIR - You recently publicised how small is the additional grant from the Labour government to the county council - only about half the rate of inflation. That alone would have a worrying effect on council tax rise and the level of services. However, I have found out that the council will actually get less money than in the current year.

This is because the £3.2m extra grant will be more than wiped out by an extra £3.6m to be paid back in landfill tax. Not only that, but an allowance for road maintenance worth around £4m will also be wiped out.

So not only will council tax payers have to meet the entire additional costs of inflation, increases in the elderly population and making plans to cope with a massive population increase from the East of England plan, they will be putting extra money into Gordon Brown's pocket.

Even worse is the knowledge that places further from London - the north, midlands and south-west, where the cost of services is less - will be getting up to 10 per cent extra money.

Labour clearly thinks everyone in Hertfordshire is rich and can afford this redistribution of our money. We aren't and we can't.

Malcolm Cowan,

Liberal Democrat county councillor, Handside and Peartree.