AS CHAIRMAN of North Somerset Council Older People Champions' Group I am responding to the letter in the Weston & Somerset Mercury (May 29) headed How Concerned

AS CHAIRMAN of North Somerset Council Older People Champions' Group I am responding to the letter in the Weston & Somerset Mercury (May 29) headed How Concerned For The Elderly? from D A Stanley. I wish to correct a number of points. Firstly, the council does have a strategy for older people. This was agreed by the council executive on March 11 this year. There was considerable consultation and engagement with older people. More than 100 contributions were received from individuals, carers and organisations working with older people.Secondly, the group of councillors referred to first met in October 2007 so that councillors could contribute to the development of the strategy. At this point the group had cross-party membership. The purpose of the group is to ensure the actions contained in the Older People's Strategy are implemented. We are also shortly to invite older people to join the group so they can have a direct say as to how the strategy is implemented and developed.Finally I wish to correct the membership of the group as stated in the Freedom of Information Act response. Cllr Reyna Knight is not a member of the group. Cllr Ian Peddlesden is a member.I would also like to point out that the council's element of the council tax went up by only 1.9 per cent for 2008-2009, which is the lowest increase of any council in the South West, and also amongst the lowest increase of any local authority in the country.ANNE KEMPChairman of the Older People Champions' GroupHOWARD ROBERTS - Old People's Champion