Never sufficient to repair such things as pavements

WITH North Somerset Council in mind who are our local councillors and what are they doing?They fall into two categories. The small minority who justify the trust placed in them by the electorate and those who do not. A visit to a few meetings of the council will quickly identify those councillors who attend meetings simply to bid the will of their political masters and who occasionally demonstrate a liking for the sound of their own voice.However, the power rests with senior officials whose main interest appears to be ensuring the survival and continued expansion of their very expensive and already overstaffed directorates, not to mention their own extremely generous salaries and pensions. Meanwhile the demands on the council taxpayer is constantly increasing but with a lowering standard of services. There always appear to be 'contingencies' to pay for the errors of the bureaucrats but never sufficient to repair such things as the pavements which in many places compare with third-world standards.There is now evidence emerging that searching questions are being asked and replies encased in bureaucratic jargon are no longer acceptable. The number of disillusioned members of the public who are now speaking out is increasing almost daily. Urgent action is needed by those elected if they are to remain elected and prove it is they, not the officials, who hold the real power.GARETH JONES - Winscombe