Madam,

The council tax increase in Ceredigion for 2019/20 at seven per cent is a step too far.

I am in total agreement with the letter regarding this in the Cambrian News (‘I am left with the grand total of £10 a week for food shopping’, 14 March). Let me add to this. Why did council leader Ellen ap Gwynn and her councillors use external advisors such as Pricewaterhouse Cooper at a cost of £2 million to tell them where to make cuts?

What is the leader and her councillors paid for?

This brings me to the pay increase they awarded themselves and, not content with an increase, backdated it to April 2018! Maybe Mrs ap Gwynn and her councillors should note the actions of Ben Lake MP, who donated his pay increase last year and again this year to local charities and the community. Perhaps she should follow his example and donate the extra two per cent council tax back to the council tax payers who do not qualify for benefits and find it extremely hard!

A cut in salaries at the top should be considered instead of increasing them.

Yours etc, Name and address supplied.

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