Madam,

The results of Gwynedd’s consultation about the cuts will not be available until mid-January at the earliest. However, it is public knowledge that town and community councils are to take on several of the responsibilities currently undertaken by the county council. Public approval for such a strategy was not part of the consultation, yet the implications are considerable. Extra money will come to them to fulfil these new (and in some cases reclaimed) responsibilities. Arguably, currently unpaid town councillors should then be paid an appropriate proportion of a suitably reduced income for county councillors. So it is with particular interest that one reads of personalised arguments within one town council (Cambrian News, 26 November, ‘Scathing at-tack’, and 24 December, ‘Unfestive row’). There are crucial issues to be considered by all our elected representatives, not the least of which is surely a common goal of attracting the investment in jobs which will keep skilled young people living here.

Yours etc

Quentin Deakin

Corbett Avenue

Tywyn