The regular replacement of cracked paving stones and filling-in of potholes is one of the things your council tax buys you. It is part of a deal which many have increasingly felt is not being properly fulfilled.

It is indeed a massive job. There are 1,000 miles of adopted roads and footpaths in the district. Monitoring and maintaining them is no doubt becoming more and more difficult at a time when, as we are regularly told, resources are tight.

Now, though, it seems that the authority has an additional incentive to keep on top of the job over and above its sense of duty: the growth of the compensation culture. It fears the cost of claims and the increased price of insurance could saddle the Council with a £2 million bill by next March and is taking special measures to try to prevent that happening.

The appointment of a four-strong team to inspect the district's thoroughfares regularly will no doubt be welcomed, particularly by those like Mr Anthony Jennings, who reports that he cracked his nose and eye socket and bruised his hand when he fell on the pavement outside City Hall this week. It should lead to what Councillor Anne Hawkesworth describes as a much more structured way of monitoring.

If the team's work leads to fewer falls and reduces the risk of compensation claims it will be money well spent as well as money saved. Meanwhile members of the public must continue to do their bit to help by reporting any broken paving flags and potholes to the Highway Maintenance Department.