A mayor? Who's paying? Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is not should we have a mayor but can we afford one?

Add to a mayoral salary the cost of a personal assistant, a few secretaries, a Press officer, a chauffeur, offices, transportation, expenses and, of course, deputy mayor (or won't our mayor take holidays or have periods of sick leave?) and it becomes hard to believe Brighton and Hove City Council's strategic director's estimate of £200,000 a year costs.

With so many council budgets being reported as overspent, it is obvious no money is available from current income, so perhaps the question for the referendum should be: Are you prepared to see your council tax increase to pay for a mayor?

-R Wallace, Charlotte Street, Brighton