It has taken Councillor Simon Williams's decision not to stand for re-election to Brighton and Hove City Council to ignite the debate about the ridiculous meeting times for the authority.

You have only to look around the council chamber to see how unrepresentative councillors are of the people they represent.

This is because it is mostly the retired and the wealthy who can afford not to work half a day or leave work early to sit on the council.

Brighton and Hove is a cosmopolitan city and if it is to thrive, the council should reflect its people.

The so-called compromise of present sitting times serves only the interest of the incumbents, many of whom have been councillors for many years.

Meeting in the evening would allow wider representation.

Parents should be supported with childcare, which would overcome one of the main counter-arguments, that evening meetings would preclude those with children.

It would also be easier for the public to attend, increasing accountability.

I do not believe this is a decision the council can take alone because there are too many vested interests, so let's have a city-wide debate and a referendum to decide the issue sooner rather than later.

-Steve Gladwin, Brighton