In response to Shirley Reeve (Letters, February 3), I disagree when she says "charity should begin at home" when it comes to care for the elderly.

A charity concert or one-off donation is all very well in responding to a natural disaster but caring for older people is an ongoing responsibility we must all face up to through the taxes we pay to local and national government.

Next year, in Brighton and Hove we will spend an extra £1.5 million for care for older people, adults with learning disabilities and those with mental health needs, helping them to live independently in their own homes wherever possible, providing good-quality residential care where needed and investing in new "extra-care" housing which gives supported accommodation to those falling between the two.

As the "baby boom" generation moves into its 60s and people live longer, the number of older people will begin to outnumber those of working age paying into the tax and national insurance pot.

When the time comes for tax bills to drop through letterboxes, it is all too easy for taxpayers to forget the amount of support and the breadth and quality of services which local councils and their NHS Trust partners provide for our older people.

-Councillor Warren Morgan (Labour) Deputy Chair, Adult Social Care & Health Committee, Brighton and Hove City Council