THIS week I received my Council tax bill 2011/2012, and how happy it was to read that the county council, police authority, and the district council, had conformed to Government policy and did not raise the tax this year.

However, my happiness was shattered, and turned to disgust, when I read that Lydney Town Council was increasing its precept by the horrendous amount of 24.7 per cent. Disgust turned to anger when I also realised that the reason for this increase was due to the total incompetency, or worse, of the authority allegedly "managing" the town's finances.

Alan Preest identified the cause of the problem in the Review some months ago, and, if I remember correctly, he was asking for action to be taken against the perpetrators of the virtual bankruptcy of the town. This "cause" was apparently an unusual payment of £150,000 to a so-called  "employed" town clerk's pension pot which she had accumulated for less than five years' residence in office. I am of the understanding that she didn't actually "work" at the job for much more than eighteen months.

How on earth did this come about, and who is responsible for this disgusting situation ?

Who hired this person – and signed her contract of employment?

It was possibly the elected town councillors, and if so which individuals should stand up in public and declare their responsibility. Can we have a public statement from all the councillors please ?

It may have been the town mayor, and I believe the person holding that position at the time was Martin Bowring. So can we have a public statement from him ?

I am under the impression that the hiring contract problem was compounded by the fact that the clerk's salary was increased rapidly throughout the so-called "period of employment", as the pension plan for this person was a final salary arrangement. If so – who increased the salary?

If it was the elected town councillors, can we please have a public statement from all the councillors?

If it was the town mayor, can we have a full public statement from Martin Bowring?

No town clerk should be entitled to a £150,000 pension pot payment for so little service in such a small town as Lydney.

If a town clerk here is really paid that much....how can I apply for the job ?

The residents of Lydney are not responsible for this debacle, and should not be expected to pay for it.

– Ralph Perry, Lydney.