Your leader in today’s paper surprised me somewhat as I am currently one of five members of the county council independent remuneration panel, but you give the impression the panel was scrapped.

My term of office soon comes to an end and the size of the new panel is being reduced to three members. We have worked hard over the last five years to ensure that county councillors are paid fair allowances and that the process is made transparent.

For instance, we recommended limiting annual increases to the same percentage as local government workers thus ensuring fairness and equity, a recommendation that was accepted by the council. We also changed the rules to allow county councillor’s to claim travel expenses for attending parish council meetings, thus helping councillors with rural divisions.

Wisbech is often forgotten in county hall and I have been proud to serve as the only member who was not living in and around Cambridge. I would urge people from Fenland to apply so a Fenland voice is continued to be heard on this panel.

ROBERT SMITH

Wisbech