Editor,

Thank you for your Editorial highlighting the proposed 17 per cent pay rise for Ceredigion County Council (What planet do Ceredigion councillors live on? Cambrian News, 4 Nov.) Your timely article tells us facts we, most assuredly, would not otherwise learn.

You tell us – and I quote – “the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales are recommending this bumper pay rise.” I may be very wrong, but this panel is most likely to be an internal panel, not people chosen at random or passing by the building.

Of course, this panel is going to be looking after their own! Although you do not go on to relate,but what are higher grades going to look forward to as a pay rise and which panel will be setting that figure?

All this is very, very wrong, especially for a short working week.

Mrs. Thatcher had it right, many years ago, when she said: “There is only one lot of money”.

Your Editorial continues by relating what life is like for the rest of us, where money should be going to improve your area; improve lives of every day folk councillors are meant to be serving – and easing worries with mounting bills.

Undeniably, with such a pay rise councillors can likely count on, they will not see the bigger picture.

What redress do any of us have?

We are meant to soldier on with shrinking incomes, bigger out-lays – and still keep paying our taxes .

Jill Baxter Tywyn

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