There can be no doubt Southend Council will be forced to make drastic cuts in its expenditure.

Even what are considered to be essential services will not be exempt.

I suspect a small executive committee of the ruling party holds private meetings to decide policy and how public money will be spent.

Although in theory councillors represent the views of their constituents, they generally ignore them and the views of the majority.

We now have one or two independent councillors and the truth of how our council works is being exposed. It is exactly as I had suspected.

As council decisions have already been made in private before any full meeting of the council, why on earth are we, the tax and ratepayers, paying the expenses of all these unnecessary councillors who are no more than voting fodder?

Cuts should be made at the top by reducing the number of councillors from 52 to 16. Eight members for the majority party, four for the second largest party, three for the next, and one for the smallest party.

The majority party would always need to present a good case to carry its policies. This unnecessary gravy train has existed too long.

Lastly, is the mayor still taken to meetings in a chauffeur-driven limo?

T Jones
Broadclyst Gardens
Southend