QUESTIONS will probably be raised this week over the issue of elected councillors receiving allowances and expenses. It has to be said that the amount received by members of North Herts District Council is lower than many other local authorities around th

QUESTIONS will probably be raised this week over the issue of elected councillors receiving allowances and expenses.

It has to be said that the amount received by members of North Herts District Council is lower than many other local authorities around the country.

The idea to introduce allowances and expenses - on which members still have to pay income tax - was to make sure that councillors were not out of pocket.

The sum of £250,000-a-year to meet the costs of councillors may seem expensive.

But it is, however, the price we pay to have people deciding matters which, after all, determine the spending of our Council Tax.

We know there are many councillors who do not claim expenses, or just a part of the money allowed.

They are there to do a job for us - and often the butt of all kinds of criticisms - but without them or the allowances system, we would not have democracy.