I can assure Kath Pitt (Letters, August 10) that none of our 78 councillors is inactive.

Some councillors may have a higher degree of responsibility, for example chairing a committee, while other councillors work tirelessly in their wards and gain little publicity for their efforts.

The figures to which Miss Pitt refers relate to gross payments made to councillors in the past financial year.

A breakdown of those payments is publicly displayed on notice boards outside both Brighton and Hove Town Halls.

Like other local authorities, the council has appointed an independent panel to review and monitor the level of councillors' allowances and expenses.

The panel also makes recommendations to the council on what the future level of expenses should be.

Its report is available for anyone to inspect at both Brighton and Hove Town Halls during normal office hours

-David Panter, chief executive, Brighton and Hove City Council