Madam,

Rarely do our elected representatives, serving us as councillors, have to consider anything with greater impact than the annual budget, which now means real cuts across all services.

I think that most people would expect them to have available, from within their administrative offices, for their consideration, complete, up-to-date, accurate information, including forecast, relative to all services about which they need to make recommendations. They should as well take into account information from outside sources and most importantly the views and opinions of those they represent (the whole population of their ward).

Clearly, your report headlined Ceredigion council accused of secrecy in budget spends, suggests a situation falling far short of supporting councillors’ duties to the electorate.

It is very puzzling indeed to understand why members of the scrutiny committees (I am assuming the full information is available to the eight Cabinet members) are seemingly prepared to continue with the process, when their democratic right, having been elected to represent the people of Ceredigion to the best of their ability, is undermined.

I and, I am confident, many residents of Ceredigion would welcome an explanation.

Yours etc,

Bill Parker, Llanfair Clydogau, Lampeter.

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