Matthew Engel’s article (Reporter at Large, 6 December) sparked a feeling of déjà vu, as I’m sure it did in many former councillors. When I was elected in 1982, the veterans bemoaned that our council only raised directly £4 out of every £7 spent; I doubt the figure is even half of that today. But as the proportion coming from central grants has risen, the amount spent on statutory responsibilities has rocketed. Consequently the “optional” spending – on so-called unimportant matters such as libraries, road and pavement repairs, and youth clubs – has fallen dramatically.
Local councillors as a whole (I know some worthy exceptions) are of a lower calibre now, because the civic-minded find little enjoyment in being Whitehall’s glove-puppet. We no longer have “local government” that answers the description.
Stephen Wortley, Enfield, Middlesex
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