While not wishing to extend correspondence unduly in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, it would be fair and respectful to readers to correct misinformation in the response letter headed "Labour event and answers" from a Giles Bridge, Chair Ribble Valley Labour Party (September 28th).

Mr Bridge, I suggest, needs to re-read my letter in the Clitheroe Advertiser (September 21st). Budget savings are being found and used, from efficiencies, recurrent underspends, income generation and service change - not 'cuts' to county council services. LCC Senior Management is being restructured and re-focused going forward to be fit-for-purpose, to replace the proliferation of directors and unclear accountability that Labour had introduced. In summary for readers, the deficit is due to Labour's incompetence and waste.

From overall control by Conservatives, led by County Coun. Geoff Driver CBE, from the May 2017 elections, the LCC savings are efficiency savings and have no impact on the services that the county council provides. Unlike Labour, we do not measure the effectiveness of our services by the amount we spend. We measure it by the value of the outputs. Conservatives care.

Toward the end of his letter Mr Bridge took a verbal swipe at the LCC Conservative group and its overall majority on the county council. He may have already been aware that a senior member and a former chairman of the county council – County Coun. Tony Jones of Morecambe – did have a minority view in relation to the forthcoming senior management restructure. Sadly at the extra LCC full council meeting on Friday, September 15th , Tony suffered a cardiac arrest and the meeting understandably was abandoned, after urgent medical attention and his transfer to a local Preston hospital. My latest information is that Coun. Jones remains in intensive care of heart specialists at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. We, the Conservative Group, continue to have him in our thoughts for a safe recovery.

Also, colleague County Coun. Vivien Taylor – Cabinet member for health and well-being and from the Wyre district - sadly passed away on September 27th .

County Coun. Alan Schofield

Ribble Valley SW