Yesterday's Courier highlighted the salaries and allowances claimed by Dundee City Councillors in 2011/12.
Of the councillors who served in the 2007-12 term and who did not retire or failed to be re-elected, my claim was the lowest across the City Council* - because I refused the councillor salary increase in 2009 and have maintained this stance every year thereafter. Additionally, I never claim expenses - and have not done so throughout my 11 years on the City Council.
I will continue throughout the next council term to refuse any increase in councillor salary, accepting pre-2009 salary levels, and, as long as I am a member of Dundee City Council, I will never claim expenses of any kind.
I am privileged to serve the people of the West End on Dundee City Council. It is not about remuneration - it is about getting things done.
* Two others - former councillors - also had the lowest salary/expenses in 2011/12 - my sister-in-law and former colleague Helen Dick, who retired from the City Council at the recent elections, and Donald Hay, formerly a Conservative councillor, who was not re-elected.