Matter to be explored to the full

I POSE the question: Can there be a conflict of interest when local councillors sit on both North Somerset and Town Councils?

In particular I refer to the well reported recent events in the town council when the bulk of the Conservative councillors abstained when the issue of the possible move of offices of North Somerset Council to Clevedon was discussed.

I can understand that in view of the postponed scheduled meeting of the North Somerset Council prior to this meeting that the councillors involved did not have a real proposal to give a ruling upon however for the future I pose the question above.

I can envisage a ruling by the North Somerset Council perhaps at their meeting scheduled for January 14 to the effect that the matter be explored to the full i.e. presumably with all viability studies to be carried out; consultations with all bodies concerned; costings and savings issues; perhaps the sharing of the premises with other North Somerset bodies as already hinted in your paper; etc, etc.

What do the dual elected councillors do if they face a conflict of interest in their respective electorate when they come to vote in a town council election?

My own opinion as a Kewstoke ward resident outside the town boundary is that all avenues that would lower council tax and make for greater efficiency of North Somerset Council whilst looking to the future when we shall have more residents/households in this area plus businesses, etc, making perhaps greater demand on local government is that we must be brave and decisive.

Finally I can understand that the dual councillors, it could be said, are better briefed on the many issues they are called upon to deal with in view of their respective roles but the question remains as given above.

R F EVELY

Beach Road, Kewstoke