Councillor Varsha Parmar refers to the Conservative Government cuts being imposed on Harrow (‘Collection charges’, Harrow Times, December 11).

The situation we face in Harrow and elsewhere in the country is that nationally we are spending more than we raise in taxation, which means that we need to balance our expenditure with our income.

Not to do so means that we leave a debt for subsequent generations to fund, and we are already spending more per annum on interest on our national debt than we do on defence.

The fundamental problem that Harrow and elsewhere faces is that such a high proportion of local government expenditure is funded by a grant from central government, rather than being raised locally.

Harrow is often politically volatile, with local control and national government being of different parties, which gives endless potential for controversy over grants.

The Scottish referendum included a recognition that Scotland should have its own revenue-raising powers, and the Mayor of London’s 2050 Infrastructure Plan includes the need for London to have its own revenue-raising powers.

More broadly it is also realistic to suggest some measure whereby some form of national taxation is retained locally, to fund local services, rather than being distributed from national government funds.

Details would need to be worked out, and it would have to be done honestly, not as a stealth tax, but the concept that productive activity should fund expenditure in the area which generates it is attractive.

M S Oliver

Woodcroft Avenue, Stanmore