Is it really only a month or two ago that the Residents’ Association of Barnet (RAB) tried to give people a chance to make changes on the council they had been complaining about by electing a few independent councillors?

If any of your readers examined the RAB leaflets, they will make sad reading in the light of your front page story (‘Reject the rise’, Times Series, July 22).

I would like to have every sympathy for the complainants, but find it difficult. They had their chance in May, but chose not only to return this appalling council, but to increase its majority, thus giving councillors even greater powers.

Grant Shapps, the Conservative Local Communities Minister, has already made his opinions clear, but can do absolutely nothing about it.

Alternatively, what can readers do about it? Even less. All they can do is gnash their teeth and regret an opportunity to alter things that is now gone forever.

By the next time they have a vote in 2014, the machinations of this council will have ensured they cannot even begin to undo what has been put in place.

Take heart instead from the comments of Cllr Brian Coleman, who tells us the councillors are “worth every penny” and “I think residents will be delighted with a sensible scheme that recognises the work councillors of all parties do”.

Everyone can make up their own minds, but I can only close with the well-known slogan — “You want it....you got it”.

M Morris, RAB deputy chairman, Cheviot Garden, Cricklewood