THE citizens of York are again indebted to the Evening Press for publishing a full list of the allowances paid to councillors over the last year (June 12).

These payments seem to increase substantially year on year without any apparent improvement in the performance of the local authority; and it is important for the people of York to see exactly what their local politicians get out of sitting on the City of York Council.

As the new scheme being phased in is said not to reward members for simply turning up to meetings but to 'focus on the individual responsibilities of individual councillors', can we now expect errant councillors to face up to those responsibilities?

The five members of the planning sub-committee who voted to reject a planning application in Hodgson Lane, Poppleton, together took £40,218.94 from the public purse but their collective action cost the taxpayers of this city £18,000 appeal costs. If they were to now reimburse those costs they would still be well in pocket.

So come on councillors Briggs, Edge, Hopton, McDonald and Waudby - let the people of this city for once see a clear demonstration of individual responsibility by its elected representatives.

Matthew Laverack,

Chartered Architect,

Laverack Associates,

Lord Mayors Walk, York.

Updated: 09:15 Saturday, June 16, 2001