“As local Cl evedon Triangle Sub Pmr 1977-1989 and pressed to become an Independent Conservative District Councillor for Central Clevedon 1987-1991 (and what a story that was with staunch unpaid support from my "Executive" foursome of my Clevedon "Last of the Summer Wine " team drawn from the best of the Chamber of Trade and Rotary colleagues with Laundon Gray my election Agent co-partner as the only survivors) .

Expense claims on the Council were quite intermittent and exceptional commensurate with individual service conscience. I recall good old Ted Leach , that well trusted staff retainer , telling me how much weight of Agenda books , minutes etc were binned not read straight from the boxes then sited in the main reception area. My politically insouciant but very loyal in support late wife Peggie ( 56 years) , attended only one main Council meeting. Being hard of hearing she could lip read from the gallery. With no names no pack drill here during the "dustman" crisis she swore "that man" whispered to the Chairman "better take the vote NOW". She asked me after the meeting whether there was a pull- string under the desk for the Chairman to pull up automatically the hands in vote by "the faithful"

Presumably now that Councillorship with potential Executive status has reached quasi- salaried career proportions ,often on political rather than meritorious professional grounds , there is in existence a local government monitoring unit available to the Chief Executive checking on individual members performance akin to the Auditor General `s function to ensure value for money . I would be much concerned to leave it entirely to the ballot box and political dominance ..

I returned from Hampshire in November 2007 with marbles intact (DV) to live in Worle near my family at St George and Locking Castle. Then I tripped up on insisting on taking my few steps with British Legion on Remembrance Sunday 2007 to be well served by broken hip surgeons in Weston GH instead of the service Grove Park. I still have one important pro bono campaign to complete in Clevedon before the call to Higher Service comes . This is for the daughter survivor Rita of the late Joyce Rita Gregory the latter having died broken-hearted and disillusioned with lack of political truth and honesty which influenced members and the local judiciary at a time when these native good living Clevedon ladies needed full support. I may yet appeal to some councillors to interest themselves in he denouement now in the offing bringing the opportunity for a well deserved rectification.

I can then perhaps adjust my rather cyncical comments in this mesage by giving leave to the web master to publish my e-mail address for enquiries.

Sincerely John Morris
podgerrjm@btinternet.com.”

“Mention councillors allowances and you get the vision of pigs with noses in troughs. I gave up a consultancy business to take an executive role turning down a £50,000 contract from an existing client. North Somerset pays me what appear to be high expenses because I have to travel around the district and region and to London to do my job which is defined in law. I also have to meet a great deal of expense from my own pocket £1,500, or thereabouts is tax allowed but not paid by the Council.

There is a national recommended rate for councillors that is far higher than North Somerset's. I am not suggesting that North Somerset should have a review, we can't afford it. You do need to realise that resenting paying me around £23,000 for a full time high stress job when the national guide is £9,000 more will be seen by many as unfair.

I am more than willing to go through what the job entails and provide references to the legal job description.

Someone mentions Carl Francis-Pester's expenses. Carl covers amongst other things waste. He needs to do a huge amount of travelling as the waste contract come sup for renewal. Given the tens of millions at risk he would be idle, or a Liberal Democrat, to take everything on trust.

David Jolley was chairman of Finance and Resources Policy and Scrutiny Panel which means he has to go to the Town Hall far more than most councillors and living in Portishead is always going to be running up high claims. You get the benefit in these in the savings he has contributed.

Please do not mix a unitary council with a parish. This is not a question of formal meetings but a complex issue of learning enough to do a job and then doing it. Risks and pressure vary according to level. In my remit children can die, schools fail and lives be ruined. Carl F-P impacts on waste and punitive taxes, civil defence and so on.”

“I note that our representative on the North Somerset Council does not attract any additional payment for Responsibility, Pension or Expenses. So, we may deduce from that, he is using his bus pass well to avoid any additional expense, so what is he or others of the sam ilk doing to justify their £8,700 payment in the first place? The total of £769,383.00p could well be pared down if there were fewer members on this Council, couldn't it?

Editorbill@hmsgambia.com”

“Having read the comments of Mark,North Somerset, I think they are harsh words but I totally agree with him, and I have no doubt that thousands of others will too.
The people of this country must stand together, and make sure that they are not allowed to get away with it, they think that having been able to get away it for so many years they can continue to get away with cheating the public, well we must stop them.”

“The current remuneration for sevives resdered by Councilores is excessive The first concern is the council tax and who can afford this expenditure therefor ANY form of increase should be restricted to the same level of the Stae Pension increase There ARE PENSIONERS in this area living close to the bread line”