I feel I must respond to John Boaler’s letter in the April 8 edition. In his letter Mr Boaler says that the Royal Wootton Bassett mayor should return his unspent allowance to his council. The mayoral allowance is for a mayor to use at his or her discretion; it is intended to help with travelling costs, loss of income and other expenses that may be incurred during the mayoral term - thereby allowing anyone to undertake the office regardless of their financial situation. Therefore- the decision to donate any unspent allowance to a nominated charity is within a mayor’s discretion.