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A watch on councillors' expenses
Given the recent furore surrounding MPs' expenses it's inevitable that from here on in claims made by politicians will be subject to the closest of scrutiny.
So when we hear that our councillors cost the public purse 2m a year there are bound to be one or two raised eyebrows.
Yet in fact Westminster could probably learn a lot from the way things are done in Leeds and at every other local authority in the country.
Instead of a system which allows the less scrupulous to milk taxpayers for all they are worth, a basic annual allowance of around 14,500 covers the costs incurred while our representatives carry out their public duties.
It means the bill for other expense claims is minimal – little more than 2,000 for all the city's ward councillors in what is the country's second biggest local authority.
Meanwhile, council leaders Richard Brett and Andrew Carter earn just over 45,000 for what is a demanding, full time job. It's a good salary but not an extravagant one.
However, 2m is still an awful lot of money and, just as critics have called on Parliament to trim its numbers, so some may question the need for Leeds to have 99 ward councillors.
The council promises to continue to ensure its members' allowance system will be transparent, fair and open to public scrutiny.
Given the current economic climate it's the least we would expect from all our politicians, regardless of the level at which they operate.
All to play for
THE YEP has campaigned long and hard for more play facilities for youngsters in Leeds.
Now it seems we're finally going to get them. More than 1m of Government cash will be spent transforming play areas for thousands of children across the city as well as creating new ones.
It's heartening to see the message is hitting home and that money is now being invested in our children's play.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: if we want our children to grow up fit and active we've got to give them an alternative to sitting in front of the TV all day.
This cash will go a long way to providing one.
A family loss
THE closure of the Market Street Arcade off Briggate will allow the area to be given a much-needed makeover.
But it will be tinged with sadness for all those connected with the 4 Cousins Grille and Coffee Lounge which will shut after decades spent as a popular meeting place in the city centre.
Leeds is increasingly dominated by faceless global chains but here was a proudly independent cafe where customer and owner were on first name terms.
As such, it feels a bit like losing one of the few remaining examples of an endangered species.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
