A RECENT trip to visit the Government in London recently confirmed the truth in the old adage that there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

As is the case with council leaders up and down the country, I am trying to come to terms with the revenue support grant the Government has allocated my neck of the woods.

Taxpayers have to fund the difference between this grant and the actual council budget so, in reality, the smaller the grant the higher the council tax.

The grant is based on a number of criteria but a major factor is the population figures for your area.

In Middlesbrough we discovered the Government had clearly made a mistake because the figure it regarded as the total number of children in our patch was actually lower than the number who receive child benefit.

Since this base figure helps set the support grant for the next ten years, it became apparent that the mistake could cost local taxpayers millions of pounds over the next decade.

Last month in London we met Home Office Minister Barbara Roche who appeared sympathetic and referred us to the Census Office - the body that supplies the Government with the figures.

Now we have heard back from the Census Office who say they cannot meet us until March. By law, our budget must be set by then so we have no choice but to use the inaccurate figures.

Perhaps the Government knew this would happen when it passed us on, perhaps it didn't. Whatever the truth it should be ashamed of the fact that the people of Middlesbrough are footing the bill for its mistake.

Everyone makes mistakes and the important thing is to recognise that and correct the error. Local taxpayers will have to pay over the odds this year but will rightly expect a full rebate plus interest when the true figures emerge.

Speaking of statistics, here are a few that don't lie. A four-litre Jaguar Sovereign costs £44,000 and does 23 miles to the gallon. A Smart car starts at just £6,300 and does over 60 miles to the gallon. It also emits far fewer pollutants into the atmosphere.

These were the basic figures that persuaded me to swap the Mayoral Jag for an eco-friendly two-seater.

But it was interesting to note that many people questioned whether it was fitting for a mayor to be seen in such a small car as opposed to the prestige of a Jag. Does a big car say something about status?

Reassurance came in the form of my 18-year-old daughter Lois who often hitches a lift into work with me in the morning.

A few weeks ago I was driving an older type Peugeot and she made me drop her off round the corner. Like most young people, she is image conscious and clearly didn't want to be embarrassed by her friends seeing her in such an old man's car.

Yet, earlier this week, as I obediently pulled up round the corner in the Smart Pulse I received a glare of disgust that teenagers reserve especially for their parents, and a ticking off for not taking her to the door.

Clearly, in the eyes of the younger generation, size doesn't matter, the Smart car is seen as cool - there is hope for the planet after all.