In response to the letter about councillors' expenses (Letters, November 29).

It is time to reiterate the facts. Many councillors' allowances are nominal allowances designed to compensate people for the time they unselfishly give to serve their communities.

All members, whatever their political leanings, should be applauded for that and not berated.

Many people complain about their neighbourhoods but very few actually decide to give their time and do something about it.

Some members, as in the case of council leader Mike Fisher, do receive a higher remuneration for specific roles.

However, even this sum is minimal in comparison to some of our senior council employees.

The second fact that needs clarifying is that, despite the selective memory of Councillor Tony Newman, it was the Labour controlled council who passed the latest round of allowance increases.

The high council tax increase imposed in April (by Labour) included for these allowances. Thirdly, it was the Labour administration who left Croydon with a £37million deficit and virtually no capital reserves.

Their mismanagement over 12 years of playing fast and loose with Croydon residents' hard earned money is the reason for the current batch of imposed cuts.

Coun Newman can use the sympathetic press to pursue headlines in the hope the Labour group won't remove him as leader but, despite all his hot air, he cannot hide from the facts nor the blame.

TONY PEARSON received by email