No one would argue that councillors don’t have a difficult job, often with criticism levelled at them from all sides.

It is a time-consuming role, and for those who are most committed to serving the district in this way, it can take up a large part of their life.

So it is right that there is an allowance paid to recognise this, and there is also a strong argument for the system whereby those who perform particular roles, such as committee chairmen, should get special allowances.

But it is also right that, particularly in these straitened times, these allowances are looked at very closely.

It was, after all, only a matter of months ago that it came to light one councillor was receiving an allowance that equated to a five figure sum every year for chairing a committee that only met once in 18 months.

Situations like this cannot be allowed to happen again, and it is vital that the special responsibility allowances paid by the Council do reflect a genuine extra workload.

The suggested changes by an independent review panel which go before the full Council next week represent a good starting point, and will see £115,000 shaved off the budget.

But all these special allowances must be very carefully scrutinised and be shown to be worthwhile.

No one wants to see the Council made up of only people who can afford to give up their time to serve, but every single penny paid out must be justified in terms of the work and responsibility of the councillors who receive them.