IT is pretty obvious that in the future we’ll have less disposable money in our pockets.

Except petrol, prices are increasing on all fronts, pension pots and interest rates are on the floor and there is the probability that the Government will raise taxes.

And, of course, there is job insecurity.

So it was worrying to read Colchester Council’s leader Mark Cory saying that council tax will be one part of rebuilding the council’s finances as well as looking at non-statutory services (Gazette, May 21, “Difficult decisions’ ahead for council”).

It boils down to “pay more and get less”.

We know local authority finances are going to be under the cosh. But so are ours.

I think those of us who pay full council tax are being taken for granted. “Oh, they can pay more” is the attitude.

Well we can’t. We don’t have bottomless pockets. We are not rich.

Most residents don’t need a wraparound service. In fact, apart from essential professional services, street cleaning, rubbish clearance, parks and cemeteries, there isn’t much else we call on.

Other services are available via central government, the private sector or charities.

Before turning the screws on hard-pressed council taxpayers, I suggest Colchester look hard at quangos, grants here, subsidies there and shovelling pots of cash into what will be another black hole, like the Northern Sports Complex.

Of course support the genuinely vulnerable and vital services.

If the council wants to boost the local economy, I say don’t raid our wallets further and let us decide what we want to spend our dwindling finances on.

Our lifestyles are seriously disrupted by this pandemic. We have taken it on the chin with fortitude but we don’t want to be clobbered by more council tax as we come out of it.

Nick Chilvers

Canwick Grove, Colchester