From Peter Doyle, Exeter 383262, November 28,2006

THE Leader of Devon County Council, Brian Greenslade, has urged the Government to rethink its proposed grant to support public services in the county.

Commenting on the Government's proposals, Cllr Greenslade said: "How the Government chooses to share out grants is vital to reducing the Council Tax burden on Devon people, but these proposals will simply perpetuate the injustice in the current system unless Ministers are prepared to think again.

"If there is no change in Whitehall's thinking, Devon will receive £49 per person less grant that even the average for English counties and that means a massive £36 million less for our public services in the county.

"We urgently need to hear the results of Sir Michael Lyons' long-awaited report on the reform on local government finance and we look to Ministers to support reforms which will give a fair deal to tax-payers in Devon, but it looks like the Government have kicked it so far into the long grass you can't get a mower in there."