Many council workers and local residents will have seen Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish's article but will still be left wondering what the justification for the expenditure on trips abroad actually is.

Such justification is of particular interest to those members of my union working for the council who are facing imminent unemployment as a result of budget cuts.

Ken quite rightly placed the sums spent in the context of the overall budget and in terms of the many vital services the authority provides.

But he completely dodged the issue of why it is necessary to spend tens of thousands of pounds on trips abroad for a few select members and officers.

Just saying it "isn't very much money" won't wash, Ken. It is still money the council could have spent on services.

-Andy Richards, Chairman, Unison, Brighton and Hove Branch