FURTHER to the letter by Roger Norvill in June 19's Mercury, the council needs to listen to what is said and not what they wish to hear. I stated in my address

FURTHER to the letter by Roger Norvill in June 19's Mercury, the council needs to listen to what is said and not what they wish to hear. I stated in my address to the full council that the issue of them paying these enormous increases was not, in the opinion of carers, fair, particularly when the increases came out of the contingency fund of £400,000. In the first meeting in July 2007 when the suggestion of increases was raised, they were informed by the financial director of the council that if increases were approved at the end of the consultation, provision had to be made in the budget. This was not done and the council voted in the increases and also voted to take the monies from the contingency fund for 2008-9. Also, the council did not compare their allowances against the rest of England, but against six unitary councils of the panel's choice. Altogether it does not leave a good taste in anyone's mouth. The council will do what they want for themselves and leave the residents of North Somerset to fend for themselves.I only hope when it comes to the next election in three years' time everyone will vote against any councillor who voted the changes through, that is all of them except 15. PEARL COLLMAN - Via email