EARLIER this year, immediately after the result of the local elections had revealed a "tied council", you kindly published a letter from me, in which I expressed concern that political considerations might influence the chairman to use his casting vote in an unconventional or unorthodox manner.

The decision of the district council last week in the matter of the Eco-business Park proved that my suspicions were well-founded, and I was dismayed to learn of the chairman, councillor Neville Stephens, had done that very thing, by voting twice on a matter which had not received the approval of the majority of the council.

The fact that the voting was even, provided evidence that the proposal to establish the Eco-business Park on that particular site had failed to win the approval of the council, and the chairman's casting vote should consequently had been used to confirm that decision.

If the council decision in this matter is not rescinded, but is allowed to stand, one may rightly ask what is the point in spending hours in discussion at all.

In conclusion, may I re-iterate that my authority in this matter is contained in the "Procedure at Meetings" section of the "Secretarial Practice", as laid down in the syllabus of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.

P B Cullum,

Hawthorn Close,

Craven Arms.