HERE we go again. Letters, June 19, Councillor Dave Smith does some creative accounting to justify the unjustifiable increases in expenses/allowances being paid to themselves, by themselves, at the expense of local tax payers.

This follows hard on the heels of another councillor demanding we give councillors the respect they deserve.

I was always taught that respect was earned, not demanded. They have not earned mine.

With regard to Coun Smith's anticipated five to six times increase over the current budget, the mind boggles at the thought of all the extra money they will be able to waste in the future.

Who knows, we may yet see an entire forest of metal trees, futuristic bicycle stands, collapsed churches and various other odd bits of scrap metal scattered around the town.

With regard to the claim that councillors' workloads and responsibilities will increase, what twaddle.

Some will have increased responsibilities but most will not and the increased workload will be carried out by the town hall employees not by councillors and at hourly rates of pay considerably less than those being taken, for sitting in council chambers and raising their hands at the right time.

With regard to the claim that councillors could command salaries of between £19,000 and £80,000, if they were paid at market rates, again what twaddle.

These salaries can only be commanded by people who are highly qualified and this cannot be said about positions filled by people with no professional qualifications and who are simply there because they belong to the right political party.

Come on Councillor Smith, who do you think you are kidding?

TAX payer and council employee. (Name and address received).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.