In the current political climate of local government financial prudence, there must be a reassessment of the money required to deliver sustainable actions described within South Lakeland District Council's Local Plan 2014-17.

Reduction in this Tory government's current funding levels for local government is affecting us all, from reduction in local bus services, deterioration in road surfaces of public highways (especially minor roads), withdrawal of some public library services, to reduction in police presence, especially in rural areas and continuing problems of supporting disabled and elderly people and those recovering from illness in their own homes.

On top of that, the recent damage to housing and roads caused by storms Desmond and Eva has exacerbated the adverse financial position that Cumbria County Council finds itself in.

It is against this background that parish councils are setting their precept for 2016/17, as I witnessed in Casterton two weeks ago.

Rather than realise the current difficult economic climate affecting its residents, Casterton Parish Council opted to increase the precept by around three per cent, with reference to monetary figures for lighting, maintenance of the village green, travelling expenses, publication of a newsletter, constructing a plaque on the war memorial and the clerk's projected salary.

In 2013/14, the precept was £7,277: in 2016/17 it will be £9,365, an increase of 22 per cent in three years.

There are approximately 140 dwellings in Casterton: I estimate just over £66 of the annual Council Tax bill householders in Casterton will be asked to pay in 2016/17 will be directly attributable to this parish council.

When I noiselessly showed my amazement at this increase in the precept, the Chair admonished me publicly for 'shaking my head!'

Furthermore, in 2015/16 Casterton's precept was set at £9,015 but the council's spend was actually £9,953: The Casterton Community Trust fund has contributed hugely to this overspend. It should have been used to improve the quality of life for people living in Casterton, rather than on civic projects that are the direct responsibility of the parish council.

In the years 2014/15 and 2015/16, Casterton parish was in the top four of rural villages in South Lakeland where the increase in precept was highest - excluding those where the precept was raised to finance one-off village projects.

The Localism Act 2011 has made it impossible for a local community who is not well-served by its parish council to call it to account. Democrats would argue they can be voted out at the end of their term of office: but what does this community do for the next three years, other than suffer at the hands of those who wish to impose a semi-urban lifestyle upon an unsuspecting rural village?

What should a Community Trust fund be used for; constructing street lighting posts and nameplates? I think not.

Residents in all villages in South Lakeland should be aware of what is happening in communities round about them, particularly regarding taxation that supports local government, so that other rural parishes in South Lakeland do not suffer the same fate which has befallen Casterton - without protest.

R.D. Murray

Casterton