Why should just eight senior councillors decide what is right and what is wrong for Castle Point?

I fail to understand how these eight persons can hold cosy chats between themselves to make decisions that will affect all the residents of the borough.

I voted for ward councillors to whom we could air our thoughts and problems which needed to be addressed. They would then be our spokespersons in taking these requirements forward.

Under the present undemocratic cabinet system this cannot happen. It is essential this is changed.

Even when a 4,441-signature petition calls for a change in the way the council is run, this is pushed aside. We are told it is quite irrelevant as this authority was named as one of the eight worst councils in the country when there was a committee system, now it is one of the best.

Maybe, but this is not a fair and democratic way of dealing with matters, just a quicker and easier way which suits cabinet members.

I applaud councillors Dave Blackwell, Norman Ladzrie and Alf Partridge for speaking out against the present system and would like to think the remaining Tory councillors will look at the decision they took and revert to a full democratic committee system.

Roy Hutson
Limburg Road
Canvey