As a resident and member of the public living in the Ilkley community for more than 30 years, I am concerned at an item on the agenda of the Ilkley Parish Council meeting, on October 3.

The important issue of concern to me is that new councillors were asked to consider appointing the Independent Internal Auditor as a Temporary Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) due to the absence of a fully qualified clerk. I understand that councillors agreed not to give the Internal Auditor the official title but, if I understand correctly, the council has agreed to him taking on the additional responsibilities of the RFO without the title — surely the Independent Auditor needs to be totally independent of whoever prepares the accounts, otherwise wouldn’t the council’s position be compromised?

Kathy Best

Leeds Road, Ilkley