I WAS shocked that so many Conservative and LibDem county councillors have voted for enormous rises in county councillor allowances.

The basic allowance is rising by 19 per cent to £10,000 p.a. and the special responsibility allowance for Cabinet members by 27 per cent to £16,000 (paid on top of the basic allowance).

It beggars belief that they can do this at the same time as cutting badly needed services for our children and older people.

The Labour City Council has shown that it is perfectly possible to attract a diverse range of high-calibre younger councillors with far, far lower allowances than the county’s, so there is no excuse for these increases at a time when the wages of so many people are failing even to keep pace with inflation.

Susanna Pressel
County Councillor for Jericho and Osney Division, Oxford

Today’s letters


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