It is wrong that one council in Sussex can take action that leads to costs for council taxpayers in other council areas of Sussex who have no say in the decision.

We have Brighton and Hove City Council allowing the March For England to hold a rally in the city without consultation with other councils in Sussex.

The cost of policing the march was put at £500,000, which has to be paid by the council taxpayers in the whole of Sussex.

We have West Sussex County Council granting Cuadrilla permission to drill another well in Balcombe without consulting East Sussex or Brighton and Hove councils.

It is quite clear that this decision will lead to more police cost to council taxpayers across Sussex.

The costs are likely to be similar to last year, ie, about £4 million.

Each council in Sussex should be obliged to consult each other before taking decisions which affect taxpayers in other council areas before taking such actions.

For marches and demonstrations which will incur such police costs, companies should be required to pay a deposit which will cover the cost of policing before any permission is granted.

March For England should be asked to deposit an amount of £500,000 to cover police costs.

In Cuadrilla’s case, it should be asked to deposit the sum of £4 million with West Sussex County Council before being allowed to drill.

If councillors are not prepared to ask for deposits before granting permission, voters should make this clear at the ballot box.

B Bayliss, Mornington Crescent, Hove