THE amount of cash allocated to North Somerset by the Government for next year has been branded 'disappointing'. It was announced on Tuesday that the district would get just 2.3 per cent more money than last year. Councillor Mike Bell, the Liberal Democra

THE amount of cash allocated to North Somerset by the Government for next year has been branded 'disappointing'.It was announced on Tuesday that the district would get just 2.3 per cent more money than last year.Councillor Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat executive member for finance, said: "We are yet again among the poorest funded areas per person in England."In North Somerset, we have made it clear that we will do all we can to keep costs down and keep council tax rises down. We have promised to do better than last year, when the rise was 4.9 per cent. "We will continue to lobby the Government to get a better deal for local residents and work hard to be more efficient and effective."However, the plain fact is that the council tax is unfair and unworkable. Council tax rises have continued over recent years and are becoming unsustainable. Those on low and fixed incomes, including many pensioners, are particularly hard hit, as are many families, already struggling with mortgage costs. The council tax must go.