I ATTENDED the North Somerset Council meeting when the budget for the ensuing year was set by the Liberal Democrats at 4.9 per cent. The glaringly unacceptable part of the budget is the £500,000 put aside for the Executive members (eight Liberal Dems) to

I ATTENDED the North Somerset Council meeting when the budget for the ensuing year was set by the Liberal Democrats at 4.9 per cent. The glaringly unacceptable part of the budget is the £500,000 put aside for the Executive members (eight Liberal Dems) to use within the district for 'deserving causes'. The other 53 councillors do not have to be consulted on how it is to be spent at all.Do not be fooled. This cash will be used for promoting Liberal Democrat causes to aid them in the local elections in 14 months time. Had this sum not been so frivolously earmarked, the council tax rise this year could have been four per cent. It does mean that regardless of political affiliation, all council taxpayers in North Somerset will be contributing £10 per household to the Liberal Democrat 'slush fund', a fact that I find completely repugnant.JOHN ROBERTS - Gilberyn Drive, Weston