The Audit Commission's rating of the performance of local councils was excellent news for Oxfordshire County Council which, as you reported (Oxford Mail, February 22), now becomes the only council in Oxfordshire to be given a four star or excellent' rating.

This also put it among the best in the country. However, what seems to have slipped your notice are the implications of the Audit Commission's rankings across the country.

Of those councils this time ranked excellent or good, almost 40 per cent were Conservative-controlled, while only six per cent were Liberal Democrat-controlled.

The same picture was evident in the Commission's Direction of Travel scores.

Of those councils improving strongly, almost 42 per cent were controlled by Conservatives and, as last year, none by Liberal Democrats.

Of those improving well, 36 per cent were Conservative councils and just under seven per cent Liberal Democrat councils.

This should perhaps come as no surprise.

Conservative councils, such as Oxfordshire County Council, have shown their ability to combine the caring Conservatism of David Cameron with the good housekeeping of Margaret Thatcher to the benefit of the people they serve.

The results are, however, a disaster for the Liberal Democrats who have always prided themselves on their ability to work local electorates.

They simply are not delivering.

Just look at Oxfordshire - all Conservative-controlled councils are either excellent or good, while the two Liberal Democrat run' councils - the Vale of White Horse and Oxford city - are rated fair' and weak' respectively.

MELINDA TILLEY (Councillor) Vale of White Horse District Council Oxfordshire County Council