I READ with interest the council leader’s summation of the workload of a cabinet member, the incredible challenges faced and the demands placed on the individual without any staff support whatsoever (SA June 5).

Having read the article I was left wondering – why does anyone want to do the job? Then it dawned on me.

First there is the small matter of the extra £9,000 which every cabinet member collects on top of the £7,700 for being a councillor which strangely is not mentioned by Coun Renard.

I am sure that some serving councillors will tell me ‘it’s not about the money’ or that ‘if you divided the allowance by the number of hours they put in, it works out less than the minimum wage; let me cut them off by saying, ‘no one forced you to become a councillor and certainly no one forced you to accept a cabinet role’.

Which brings me to the real reason why politicians (with honourable exceptions) seek election and prestigious positions – if not a cabinet role perhaps the chair of a committee or paid membership of an outside body. It’s all to do with power and influence.

Indeed, I am all too aware of some politicians who are driven by the aphrodisiac of power, they crave the portfolio which gives them status and political credibility.

Take it away from them and they become sullen, withdrawn and highly dangerous as their disappointment turns into frustration and anger. No one believes the oft said words ‘I want to spend more time with my family’ – we know this hackneyed phrase is nothing more than the ‘thing to say’.

Of course there are some who will refute the accusation that they are influenced by money or status and point out that their primary motivation is to ‘do good in the community’ – to them I say ‘then volunteer’.

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon