Pay them properly

Mendip District Council was right to reject proposals to increase their allowances.
It would have been morally wrong and a public relations disaster to agree a rise while cutting jobs and services.
Tax payers take exception to their elected representatives being well paid or compensated for their hours of work, yet are quick to complain if services are not to the standard they demand.
The fact remains that the allowances paid to councillors in mid-Somerset are too low to attract talented people who need the money.
We rely on small numbers of community-minded volunteers prepared to give their time for the public good while receiving compensation at levels below the minimum wage.
The level of district council allowances is decided by councillors voting on recommendations made by an unpaid Independent Remuneration Panel.I
served on the Mendip panel for six years and quickly came to the conclusion that we should pay our councillors a living wage so we can attract the best candidates.
The politicians were not willing to adopt this course, partly because they respect the tradition of worthy souls willing to serve just for the public good, and partly because they feared an unfavourable reaction from the electorate.
My views remain the same – don’t complain about monkeys if you are only willing to pay peanuts.
Philip Welch