The North-East rejected regional assemblies in their recent ballot with 78 per cent against and only 22 per cent for.

There is no need for such bodies, elected or unelected, and they should be wound up.

However, all local authorities in the South-East contribute to the upkeep of SEERA, our own regional white elephant.

There are significant staff costs involved in supporting its regional government and European activities - in the absence of any mandate at local level.

It is beyond the reach of the voter and its activities go unreported, yet they involve fundamental changes to our system of local government and even the eventual dissolution of the UK as an independent nation.

The use of council tax for such activities may be illegal and a future administration might decide to surcharge those politicians responsible.

Councils are not obliged to fund SEERA.

The East Riding of Yorkshire withdrew from the Yorkshire regional assembly - its leader said: "The £87,500 subscription should be spent elsewhere in local services."

If South-Eastern councils did the same, our own regional quango would find it difficult to justify its existence.

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has been opposed to regionalisation since the Maastricht Treaty created the Committee of the Regions in 1992.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish, who is vice-president of this committee as well as being an assembly member, should think again before committing yet more local taxpayers' money to the South-Eastern monster and concentrate instead on serving the people of Brighton and Hove, for which he is, after all, paid a full-time salary.

Whether or not one agrees with the UKIP position, councils have it within their powers to help put an end to SEERA once and for all.

I do not see why we should allow membership of the EU, which has destroyed so many livelihoods in industry, agriculture and fisheries, to generate so many jobs for the boys and all at our expense.

-Ian Hills, Brighton