KB Carey (letters, February 4) is fundamentally wrong on the premise that the councillors' allowance rise should have been in the Labour manifesto.

It is Government policy that councillors have to set their own allowances; it has nothing whatsoever to do with last year's local elections.

It is the amounts that are in dispute.

Whilst Labour councillors have come up with figures which effectively double their remuneration, what do Tories think the allowance should be?

It might be better that a consensus was arrived at, but it needs both parties to arrive at one.

Would it be preferable to apply agreed new rates as a "pro term" arrangement until we know what new structures of Local Government the reforms will bring about?

Currently we seem to be in danger of having local allowances in place which may bear no relation to the responsibilities councillors will have to face in the future.

John Paterson

Northwood Avenue

Purley

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