As the furore over MPs’ expenses starts to wind down, perhaps we should look closer to home, in detail, at the profligacy of our local council.

I do not mean our beloved democratically elected councillors, rather the tail that wags the dog, ie council employees.

I and a colleague recently received 11 copies each of the same five-page document, printed both sides and all photocopied, presumably by someone with nothing better to do.

I realise by raising this issue that Bournemouth council will immediately appoint a head of photocopying which in itself will obviously necessitate a whole new department, subject of course to the correct application of Regulation 4, paragraph 2, appendage IIIc (2006) of the appropriate EU directive.

Geoff Cooper, St Albans Avenue, Bournemouth