IN reply to Mr Ponsford's, letter in your issue dated Friday, March 20, Crediton Town Council would like to draw readers attention to the statement made by the Mayor, published in the Crediton Courier on Friday, November 21. This statement, approved by the Council, was made when the precept was set and intends to explain to the tax payers of Crediton the reason for the increase, as well as putting into perspective the difference between pounds and percentages. The Town Council Precept THOSE of you looking through Sue Read's report on this week's town council meeting will possibly be surprised or even shocked that town councillors are proposing an 18.83 per cent increase in the town council's precept whilst the two higher authorities are keeping their precept at a nil percent increase! You may well be asking yourself how the higher authorities can achieve this and why the town council needs to ask for an increase. Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council are not magicians and if they were they would not be drawing a rabbit from their hat but a gerbil! It looks a bit like a rabbit, long ears and strong back legs, but it is smaller and thinner. Because of central government constraints County Councils and District Councils are strongly urged not to increase their council tax. We must remember that both these councils will also suffer a reduction in central government funding. They have been able to keep the precept increase at zero percent because they are cutting or reducing services. We have seen the proposed closures of care homes, day care centres and the youth provision. The District Council is also proposing to greatly reduce their contribution to our town toilets and proposes making charges for garden waste collection. Both these types of measures have enabled both higher authorities' council tax to remain at a zero per cent increase. Town Councillors have listened to the complaints and concerns of the people of Crediton and with the increase we propose we intend to mitigate some of the effects of the proposed cuts and changes put forward by Devon County Council and Mid Devon District Council. Our biggest concerns are to help with the youth provision and to maintain at least two public toilets in the town. We sincerely hope that we have interpreted the wishes of the people of Crediton correctly. If you look at the increase as a percentage it might seem high but when you look at the actual money figures you will see that we are asking for an extra two pence a day from each band D household. This will mean a band D household will pay £61.08 per year. We sincerely hope that you agree that this is, in real terms, a small increase and one worth paying. Frank Letch Mayor of Crediton