Sir,
I note from page 12 of the Observer (October 23) the headline 'Tough times ahead as council deals with low budget increase'.
Our local AM's fear cuts in services or jobs to meet the shortfall, or a rise in the Council Tax bill. The leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Clr. John Davies, states they will try and keep tax rises to a minimum, whilst facing difficult decisions on resource priorities.
It has been my experience whilst working for a national business, when it came to savings, higher management survived at the expense of front-line staff who then had the battle to cope with the fallout.
A look on line at the 2008/9 accounts showed many staff members being paid more than MPs and one man/woman being paid as much as the PM, to run a small Welsh council. Where is the sense in that?
So do the decent thing Clr. John Davies, don't follow the national companies' trend, do the right thing and trim the tree starting from the top. Here is where you can make the savings, on wages, allowances, perks, to save the services you state will be in danger. Or is keeping a few people at the top sweet more important than the 'value for money' rhetoric you publicly announce every chance you get. If they don't like the savings, I'm sure the county could find suitable replacements who are qualified to do the jobs - after all, there are 2.5 million out of work.
I. L. Williams,
Narberth.