Gordon Clack (Oxford Mail, October 11) has not been following local events as closely as one might have hoped. County councillors’ mileage allowance has been cut along with that of our staff. County councillors’ allowances have been frozen for the third year running, as have the wages of our staff. In 2013, we will cut the number of elected members from 74 to 63, making a considerable saving. Elected members do not have “perks”.
It is easy and cheap to suggest councillors should not be paid for their time, looking back, no doubt, to a golden era when Lord Macclesfield ran the county council from his country pile. If we did scrap modest payments to councillors we would soon find membership was restricted to the wealthy, union appointees and pensioners. This would not be good for democracy.
KEITH R MITCHELL CBE, Leader of the Council, County Hall, Oxford
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