BOURNEMOUTH residents will be pleased to hear that their council tax will not be increased in the coming year despite additional funding being sought from the police and fire services.

However, local residents will have noticed Councillor John Beesley’s concerns with regard to cuts in future funding from central government.

This will not have escaped the notice of the many people in Bournemouth who see themselves at the mercy of such future cuts.

With those concerns in minds has Councillor Beesley noticed how Devon and Cornwall, with a significantly higher population than Dorset and Wiltshire, have one Chief Constable and one elected Police Commissioner?

Surely there is scope for significant savings by a merger of the two Dorset and Wiltshire police forces?

In the same vein has he noticed that the Isle of Wight proposes to dispense with its chief executive; has a similar move been been considered by Bournemouth Council specially in the light of a significant outsourcing of services?

GORDON CANN Craigmoor Avenue, Bournemouth