I WAS dismayed to say the least with the pitiful 3.2 per cent rise in Government grant for local authority services in Worcestershire.

Worcestershire is already one of the lowest funded county councils and it has received the lowest increase. In contract, the average rise for local authorities was around 6.7 per cent.

If Worcestershire were funded at the same rate as the average county council it would have an additional £30 million to spend on services such as schools, roads and caring for vulnerable elderly and young people.

This is a grossly unjust settlement that places the county at the bottom of funding tables, despite our efficient performance during the year.

So why is Worcestershire being treated any differently to other authorities? It would seem the answer is simply geography. The cause of the problem is the formula used by civil servants in Whitehall to determine settlements, which it favours counties in the South East.

The funding cake for local services needs to be cut more fairly, with Worcestershire receiving a settlement in line with the average.

We want no less than our southern counterparts. We require a fair system of spending assessment.

CAROLE WARREN, Leader, Worcestershire County Council.