Whilst I feel that North Somerset councillors should be paid in line with other councillors in the south west, the extra £11,500 a year leader Nigel Ashton will get does seem

Whilst I feel that North Somerset councillors should be paid in line with other councillors in the south west, the extra £11,500 a year leader Nigel Ashton will get does seem somewhat excessive.I would have thought a maximum of £6,000 would be the most he should be paid and each of his executive members should receive £5,000 extra.After all, meals on wheels has been decreased, transport to faith schools has been scrapped and funding cut to many voluntary organisations.I think the despair caused to the more vulnerable residents of North Somerset is something which was ignored by the panel which recommended these rises. Everything has gone up this year - food, petrol, etcetera - but more concern needs to be given to the above proposed increases.D Balwell, Lawnside, Backwell