On a scale of one to five choose who you want sacked: I was fortunate enough to be told about a council questionnaire (by my councillor) on the website www.reading.gov.uk/yourmoneyyoursay which is requesting that we virtually choose who is going to be sacked.

Yes, it’s an old-fashioned word but don’t let us beat about the bush.

If you are one of the 40% who don’t have a computer you probably won’t know about it at all unless the reliable Reading Chronicle tells us all. (Council’s survey asks which services to axe, Reading Midweek, October 20).

We have a list of 13 services and a scale of one to five which we are asked to mark, each in order of importance. Services such as children’s social care services, adult social care services, education, housing, street care, community safety, public health and safety too. Also, there is a list of 11 services that we are asked to indicate a choice of council or others to provide. But the form seems to exclude retired folk, I see. Also there are only three weeks to have a comment.

Given the experiences of others previously, where the private provider just walked away when it was not producing sufficient profit for them or had to have the contract rescinded for bad service, how can we at this important time risk this happening to Reading?

I feel these councillors are ducking their responsibilities. As usual they want to say they had a consultation and the public chose. I for one know that the £20 million they want to save could easily be raised by selling several of the properties we, the Reading citizens, own. Have a look at the list of properties Reading Borough Council, that’s you and me, own, you will be amazed. Dare the council publish it, I wonder. It staggered me.

Some of the commercial property we own in the town centre could have the lease sold and raise a big part of the money required. We need more carers for the old, young and mentally handicapped, not fewer. We need more social workers, not less. It is going to cost our council much more in redundancy payments than to find the money other ways to satisfy a political dogma. I would remind everyone we all have a vote next May.

Alan Johnstone

Blandford Road Reading

PS: I apologise it’s a bit long but I could have filled pages, I’m so cross.