I WOULD like to thank Mr Nal Thomas of Cefn Fforest for his letter (24.9.13) where he accepts that over the last three years, UK workers have seen their wages fall in real terms, and that Caerphilly council workers come into this category.

Mr Thomas then turns to the chief officers pay award, where he asks me to comment. I would point out that I am on record as having condemned the pay award; I would also add that when we get it wrong, we act to put it right and apologise.

Compare that with the actions of the former Plaid-led Caerphilly council, which invested £15 million in failed Icelandic banks and the resulting loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost interest payments, with over £2 million pounds still outstanding.

This money could have been used to cushion the cuts, invested in services or keep council tax down.

I would also remind Mr Thomas that back in 2009 Plaid awarded the deputy chief executive a £15k a year pay rise, which Plaid failed to rescind or apologise for.

Cllr Nigel Dix Montclaire Avenue Blackwood