29th of December 2011 - Banking On An Increase

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29th of December 2011

Dear Sir/Madam,

BANKING ON AN INCREASE

I was astounded to learn that Scottish local government minister Derek Mackay has frozen councillors' pay for another year.

I was impressed by the argument, when our banks were in crisis, that restricting the remuneration of senior bankers in failing banks would lead to a diaspora of banking talent as all the best bankers left for higher paid jobs with only poor quality staff still in post.

This argument surely applies to local government and it would be regrettable were Mr Mackay's freeze to lead to our councils degenerating into a morass of the unemployed and unemployable especially as strong and wise leadership will be required to steer councils through the difficult times ahead.

John Eoin Douglas