Last week in your report on Mike Oborski's decision to take a pay cut as leader of Wyre Forest District Council he was quoted as saying "... The Labour Party can go to hell! I do not take criticism from councillors who voted for huge rises themselves at county level".

The public doesn't seem to be informed about the details, and I hope you will let me inform them briefly through this letter.

All county councillors are receiving a basic £5,000 per annum each - Wyre Forest equivalent is £2,750. There are other sizeable special responsibility allowances.

The total basic cost for the 54 county councillors is £285,000 some £110,000 more than the total allowances, including special responsibility allowances, for the 42 Wyre Forest councillors.

The Labour Party leader of the County Council receives £15,000 per annum, enough to pay for over five Wyre Forest backbench councillors or 50 per cent of the total cost of her 11 Wyre Forest Labour colleagues.

The three Labour county councillors who are also Wyre Forest district councillors receive a total of £28,000 - all get special responsibility allowances - one receives a total of £10,000. The total of £28,000 would pay for 10 Wyre Forest backbench councillors.

There are more such observations to be made but I'm sure the electors will now have got the message - "It's your money they're getting, don't let them kid you as well".

FRANK BAILLIE

Wyre Forest District Councillor