An open letter

OPEN LETTER TO KEITH BARROW – LEADER OF SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL Recently I attended a full council meeting to raise a question on the subject of the part ‘scrutiny’ plays in the modus operandi of the council.

I raised the matter as a result of being informed by one of the councillors that it is current practice ‘not to waste time’ on reading scrutiny papers; apparently there is so much paperwork to be dealt with that what I can only suppose is rated as ‘irrelevant’ is discarded. Given the particular style of local government, that is ‘strong leader’ it feels very much as if half a dozen people are responsible, without any real oversight, for the way in which our county services are being relocated in the private sector.

My observation is that the vast number of elected members were disengaged and came to life only to raise their hands to support whatever matter was being ushered through.

I write not to ask you to make any changes in your chosen way of running the business but to ask you to consider that the opportunity exists for saving a sizeable sum of money without too much further pain for Shropshire residents and employees.

May I suggest that you consider reducing the number of elected members by 50 per cent; this would be in harmony with the reduction in the number of council employees and reduction in services. I assure you that this is not a frivolous suggestion that I offer and I would appreciate serious consideration being given to it.

JOYCE BRAND

Three College Street

Ludlow

 

Unsupported

I DO not support the views expressed by Cllr Phil Grove in the Tenbury Wells Advertiser of March 6 and 13, concerning the possible removal of one of the two fire engines at Tenbury and believe his suspension was justified. He ignored the Conservative whip without justification and voted with Labour councillors. It was not a matter of conscience and his county council division is Hallow, which does not have a fire station.

He is quoted as saying: “I put lives in front of money”, implying that those who voted differently to him were putting money before the lives of people, which I am sure they were not. As a result of cutbacks forced on local authorities, to avoid high increases in council tax, savings have to be made.

It is wrong to state that the removal of one of the two fire engines from Tenbury would put lives at risk. The website of Tenbury Wells Fire Station details its two engines. One is described as a pump and the other as a rescue pump. It states the “pump attends incidents that do not involve rescues” .

The rescue pump is first away to rescue incidents and multi- appliance incidents. Therefore the removal of the pump would not put lives at risk.

The number of fire incidents throughout the country in the last ten years has shown a continuous decline as has the number of deaths and injuries from fires. There are several reasons for this; the public has taken notice of advice from the fire service, more alarms have been fittedand more fire retardant materials in furniture are being used.

ALEC WALL

President Tenbury Wells branch West Worcestershire Conservative Association