ALTHOUGH it's a pity Robin Meltzer could not resist further personal barbs aimed at Sir Malcolm Rifkind and myself, his letter setting out his policy differences with the council's Conservative administration is nonetheless illuminating for it reveals that in Kensington and Chelsea, even Lib Dems are broadly content with their council.

In his list he finds no room for mention of Chelsea Academy, the first new secondary school in the borough for 50 years, or our commitment to a new secondary school in North Kensington, presumably because he supports both.

And to find some basis for opposing our plans to give Holland Park School's pupils and teachers one of the finest schools in the country, he has to resort to the old canard that we are selling off the playground. But, as has often and amply been demonstrated, our scheme will in fact give pupils more play and sports space of an infinitely superior quality.

Apart from Holland Park, Mr Meltzer's other big political theme seems to be that our consultations are somehow not sincere enough and that we take the public for granted. If that sounds a bit vague and woolly to you, don't worry, you are not alone.

So short of real issues is he that he is even reduced to citing his interest in routine quasi-judicial planning applications like Kensington Odeon as evidence of his intense political engagement.

What Mr Meltzer should be taking an interest in, of course, is resident satisfaction with their council.

This is independently surveyed frequently and compared with satisfaction levels around the country. But he knows perfectly well that when it comes to satisfied residents only one or two other councils in the country even play in the same league as the Royal Borough.

Add to that the mass of independent assessors who only last week put Kensington and Chelsea in the top five councils in the country and perhaps it's no wonder Mr Meltzer has to resort to playing the man, rather than the ball.

He calls the few visits I have made to the USA as both leader of the council and a leader of London local government as 'jaunts'.

All the details are easily found on the council website, where they have been for a very long time.

For me and my council colleagues the ratings achieved are still not good enough. We can provide even better services and more efficiently.

That belief has driven us for the last 10 years and means that we have to learn from others who are ahead of the game, wherever they may be.

If that helps to set low taxes and improve services then it is worthwhile, even if it allows opponents the opportunity for personal attacks.

COUNCILLOR MERRICK COCKELL Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council