SIR – All credit to Bradford city councillors for reviewing their allowances, because the public purse has been abused for too long with some of the ridiculous payments made, and hopefully this principle will be adopted by the other four West Yorkshire local authorities.
Key jobs given out not on qualifications or experience but by ‘Buggins’ Turn’ dependant on which party group has the majority must be wrong, as the so-called ‘responsibility’ rests entirely with the taxpayer who must foot the bill for every blunder made, regardless.
But why stop there, because it seems odd to most citizens that those claiming council tax or housing benefit must meet stringent ‘means-testing’ criteria, when councillors get full allowances regardless of personal wealth or other income streams, eg, retirement pensions in many cases.
Being a councillor used to be the epitome of voluntary public service, but sadly over the years because of the allowances etc, has degenerated into a money-making racket that is seen as better than working for a living in many cases.
By undergoing means-testing themselves, councillors would gain a lot of respect from the people.
D S Boyes, Rodley Lane, Leeds
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