The process for fixing the council tax was the subject of a talk by Dan Bates, Torridge District Council's head of finance, at a meeting of the Holsworthy area branch of the Senior Council for Devon, held in the Manor Suite on Tuesday, April 7, writes Christine Williams, our Holsworthy correspondent.

He explained how the council carried out a survey of the public to find out which factors that affected the quality of life were considered important or needed improving. Top of the list came affordable housing, roads and pavements, public transport, fear of crime, wages and the cost of living levels, activities for teenagers, health and clean streets, though priorities varied from one part of the

district to another.

The capital programme for big projects was funded by selling off council assets and from government grants, not the council tax. Holsworthy's new cattle market was one of five current projects. Despite cost pressures of rising bills and falling incomes, councillors had decided to set a 0% increase in the council tax.

With revenue needed of just under £10 million, and a government grant of £6.3 million, the council tax set at 0% left a deficit of more than £62,000 for which they had dipped into their reserves. Nevertheless, as Devon County Council took the lion's share, and as the county council, the police, the fire and rescue and parish precepts had all increased, everyone in Torridge was paying 2.85 per cent more.

Asked about a unitary authority for Devon he said it made economic sense, but Alan Rayner said local government was not a business and a unitary authority would leave a democratic deficit.

A second guest speaker was Cllr Phil Pennington, Torridge District Council's older people's champion. He said that with food prices rising by 18 per cent many older people were struggling to make ends meet. Yet in Torridge they were missing out on £2 million of benefits to which they were entitled, some through pride, though the 40 page form they had to fill out to claim was a disincentive.

In response to questions about hospital transport, he said the PCT would only supply transport when there was a "medical need", yet surprisingly that did not include getting to hospital for treatment or for an appointment. It was completely wrong that some people were travelling long distances several days a week for treatment, waiting long hours in hospital and returning home exhausted. Unfortunately, they lived in an age when only those who shouted loudest were noticed, and older people did not make their voices heard and challenge inequalities.

Margaret Coles, the chairman, thanked the speakers then gave details of meetings she had attended. It was agreed that the Holsworthy Senior Council AGM will be at 7pm on July 28 in the Manor Suite.