Sir, – Your article (DST, May 1) on councillor allowances at Richmondshire District Council told only part of the story.

Coun Griffiths, for the Tories, had proposed that all basic allowances be increased in line with the report before council.

He then said that the Tory members of the strategy board, for this year only, would not accept the recommended 133pc rise (for board members). His proposal was that they would all accept a 13.36pc rise in their basic allowance.

In addition, Coun Steckles would accept a 20pc increase in her leader’s allowance.

Along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I had spoken against, and am totally opposed to, any increase in allowances for councillors in the present economic crisis.

I reacted angrily to Coun Griffith’s proposal, because it was a very obvious attempt to play gesture politics, in offering to return just some of this excessive increase back to the council.

Thankfully, even the Tories finally realised the foolishness of their proposed increases in these difficult financial times.

They could see that the debate was going against them and changed their minds to support the Liberal Democrats’ proposal to freeze allowances.

The council will now consult with the Local Government Association on how much councillors should be paid in the future.

This surely will allow us all to focus on what is more important; serving the needs of the residents we represent, which is after all the job we are all elected to do.

COUN LINDA CURRAN Wellington Place, Richmond