At a time when some pensioners are so desperate they would rather face prison than pay outrageous council tax bills, it is disgraceful that councillors are wasting £27.50 a head on their meals at meetings.

Few pensioners are able to afford this kind of extravagance even for a treat at Christmas.

It would be far better to provide some of our youngsters with valuable experience and work opportunities. The council should recruit a few catering course students to prepare and serve simple meals at a fraction of the cost.

Feather-bedded councillors seem increasingly out of touch with the reality of spiralling bills and expenses which confront ordinary people.

It is time council tax-payers had a much greater say in the way their money is spent.

-Christopher Read, Hove