DEAR EDITOR - It beggars belief that Bromsgrove District Council - who were criticised in the Corporate Governance Audit Report for their poor performance, and who have been dragged screaming and shouting into putting their house in order - should have the audacity to use such a report to reward those at the helm with substantial salary increases.

There cannot be a greater insult to the people of Bromsgrove than to have to pay an increase of 28 per cent in council tax to reward a failing council.

There certainly cannot be any justification for not returning free bus passes to our senior citizens. The council can obviously afford it.

Finally, for every £30,000 spent by the council equals approximately £1 on our council tax.

Thus, the cost in rewarding this failing council has cost each household £5.

Therefore, if the council were to be paid by results we would all be entitled to a reduction in council tax of £5.

However, it would seem the greater the council's failings the greater the financial rewards.

What an insult!

Cllr Peter McDonald,

(Lab - Uffdown and Waseley),

Bromsgrove District Council.