Having read Rear View Mirror on the back page of last Friday's Gazette regarding the issue of expenses, I felt that I am obliged to respond.

As your reporters will be aware from attendance at council meetings, I asked for the issue of the costs of the civic evening 2012 to be discussed soon after my adoption as mayor.

It was concluded that, except for the retention of a small element, for example for the 'Citizen of the Year', that all councillors, both Kingsbridge and visitors, would fund the meal themselves.

No direction can be given to visiting mayors as to how they fund their attendance, but since they are representing their town, I would not be at all surprised if they claimed for the cost.

A letter has been sent with invitations to this year's civic evening which addresses this matter. I was not aware of any guidance to 'pay my own way' i.e. out of my own pocket, for the Dartmouth event, but was aware that my attendance would not be funded by Dartmouth Town Council under the normal reciprocal agreement.

Last June I also spoke with the town clerk and chairman of the district council to say that I was intending to put the equivalent amount that I claimed for entertainment from my chairman's allowance to my charities. I had not intended this to become public.

Allowances for chairman of local councils are provided to cover costs for executing their roles and are there to enable anyone to feel that eligibility is not dictated by their own financial means.

My use of the funds has been in accordance with the 'rules' and perhaps your article might have reported that the town clerk and I rejected an invitation from Devon County Council to an event in Exeter to celebrate parish councils on the basis of costs to the public purse.

Finally, I have been invited to a vast range of events this year, which suggests that the mayor's attendance is still desired, indeed the welcome and value to me as chairman of Kingsbridge Town Council has been second to none. I hope the above assists in addressing the issues you raise.