CLLR Braham should think hard about what he is suggesting (Letters last week), namely that the council should, at the cost of other much needed services, act as a banker for Haven House Trust.

I believe that everyone wants to see Haven House succeed in establishing itself as a hospice, but the council also has a legal obligation to make sure its finances and resources (such as the White House) are properly managed for the benefit of the borough's residents.

We must remember that Haven House has not yet opened as a hospice and therefore there are no children resident. It also failed to attract lottery funding.

We have now entered into talks hopefully to resolve this matter, but if Haven House still fails to find the money for the lease then it will have to return the property to the council so that it can be put back to good use.

This is clearly an emotive issue, but for Cllr Braham to suggest that we are persecuting this charity is a nonsense. This money is overdue since February this year.

We are making sure that our assets and finances are managed properly so that we can provide essential council services and so that community assets are used effectively for the benefit of all borough residents.

CLLR TERRY WHEELER,

leader of the Labour group.