THE announcement (LET, September 1) that a previous leader of Burnley Council had decided to give up local politics to concentrate on her work on two quangos is worthy of reinterpretation.

In the worst kept secret of the year (I predicted this announcement almost a year ago), what is really being stated is the obvious.

Put simply, local politics, in itself, pays very little for a lot of hard work - quangos pay a hell of a lot for very little work.

This fact of life naturally attracts those who know a nice little earner when they see one.

The local hospital trust pays non-executive directors approximately £615 per three hour meeting for attending eight meetings a year. Their qualifications, proven interest or track record in health care play little part in the selection process - political and other social influences are far more likely to attract their appointment. Yet, these people decide on serious health issues.

The people of this community have a right to know who is determining the kind of treatment available to them - and, as public servants, they should be exposed to public scrutiny, including every relevant detail of the selection process that got them there.

Most people might think that a poor track record in local politics should not be rewarded by an easy cruise into retirement, financed by the general public.

Not all such non-executives are non-productive passengers, but, like on all good cruises, the hard working crew are in a minority.

H HORNE (Mr), Brunshaw Road, Burnley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.