Madam,

Gwynedd Council has made much of the fact that it one of few directly consulting the public as to where cuts should be more or less severe.

However, there are major shortcomings:

1. Corporate or ‘back-room’ departments are excluded from the discussion

2. There is no option included for percentage budget cuts

3. There will be no outsider scrutiny of the returns from the ‘Gwynedd Challenge’

4. The timetable for publication of the results and final decison-making is not in the public domain

On the last matter, it would appear that, as things stand, the final decisions will be taken by the Cabinet, a small group of leading Plaid Cymru councilllors and civil servants appointed by them.

How democratic is this?

Yours etc,

Quentin Deakin

Chairperson,

SOS Gwynedd,

Corbett Avenue,