""Well, now, here's a suprise. All in this together, eh?""

Lousy timing indeed, and monumentally insensitive.

However, purely in the interests of truth (you've heard of that, I'm sure), it's worth mentioning that they have also voluntarily frozen their remuneration since 2003, and in their last review in 2006, decided to take no increase, and are now fllowing the recommendation of an independent review body.

I'm sure that, during those eight years of voluntary pay freeze, lower paid staff had no fewer than seven increases, and the cost of living rises just the same whether you are a councillor or a clerk.

It's always nice to have both sides of a story, don't you think?

Don T.