IT WAS with great interest that I read about MBI Councillor Carol Broad and her outrageous claim of £18 an hour in baby-sitting expenses. We have heard so much from the MBIs about Lancaster City Council's financial crisis and we are facing unprecedented increases in our Council Tax bills in the area. Yet, Cllr Broad seems to think it is acceptable to fill the pockets of relatives with tax payers' money and at a rate that exceeds the charges made by even Eton College!

How can Cllr Broad justify this? In what other context would £18 per hour for baby-sitting be acceptable?

The MBIs have been keen to cut budgets for services provided by both the council and voluntary organisations in the area yet appear to be happy to allow one of their own councillors to milk the public purse. They have been quick to accuse other administrations of financial mismanagement yet here is a prime example of the unethical exploitation of public funds taking place right in their midst and by one of their own.

Resolving this situation is easy - it needs just four simple things to happen:

1.Cllr Broad should pay back the money

2.Cllr Broad should resign immediately

3.Her MBI colleagues should condemn her actions

4.The electorate of Victoria Ward should return a councillor from a party with principles and policies - this clearly excludes the MBIs.

I look forward to an explanation of this from the ever weakening MBI administration.

Ardal