• NOBODY wants school governors, safer neighbourhoods boards, police independent advisory groups, Samaritans, food bank volunteers, and so forth, to be out of pocket for their service to the community.

Nor would Camden begrudge a councillor during this cost of living crisis. The borough clearly states people are “paid to serve as a councillor in recognition of their workloads and responsibilities, so that people are able to undertake the role of being councillor without being subject to financial loss for doing so”.

So in 2021 Camden paid more than £1million in allowances to around 54 councillors. This £1million plus paid in councillors’ expenses ain’t what it used to be but it’s still a handy sum.

I asked in your May 5 Letters pages how many hours councillors do for their allowances and someone assured that the councillor they live with does “at least 30 hours a week”, (It’s important councillors should be paid, May 12).

As Mandy Rice-Davies observed, they would say that wouldn’t they? Councillors are not paid a salary and cannot join a superannuation scheme.

We don’t need any more talking machine politicians paid a salary by the state, priests or grossly self-entitled princes. Perish the thought!

The role should be counted in both hours and in results. Thus the capabilities of someone with a day job, demanding a high-powered skill set, can bring their speedy contribution as a councillor alongside that of the pensioner with perhaps more time to spare.

Four councillors made £185.55 bike allowance claims in 2021. In the spirit of inclusivity, in recognition of our subsequent Olympic achievements, and given the borough average age is two years lower than the national average, why are not skateboards an allowable expenses claim?

Hang ten!

A luta continua.

DAVID A WILLIAMS, NW2