Council leader Keith Mitchell’s frequent rants and pleas for help in choosing where budget cuts could and should be made.

I find these pleas sickening, as not too many months ago the higher echelons of the council were awarded a massive pay rise, while many other people in the county struggled under the economic crisis.

I believe Mr Mitchell said something along the lines of that to get the best, we need to pay people well, otherwise they would go elsewhere.

My suggestion is, let them. If these people hold the public purse, they should be running everything as leanly as possible, then the economic crisis would have had a minuscule effect on our everyday lives and facilities.

Perhaps we should get people in who do not believe they are gods and pay less for them.

I would also suggest that if city and county councillors are doing their jobs for the public good, then the first thing they should do is forego any allowances. This would put a staggering amount back into the kitty.

They should remember they stood to be elected; they were not asked, and the majority of them already have full-time jobs.

We should follow much of continental Europe and the US in electing a mayor who would be accountable to the public for everything in the county.

If the public is then not enamoured with their contribution, they could be voted out forthwith.

IAN WILSON York Road Headington Oxford