Opportunity

Further to your article in the January 3 edition of the North Somerset Times I wish to draw your attention to the banner headline 'Council's £2,000 error'. This sum was paid to local residents, due to maladministration by officers of North Somerset Council. Will you please give me the opportunity to set the matter out correctly in your paper.At all times during the prolonged period, as it seemed then, over which this matter was discussed by residents, officers and councillors but not debated at the planning committee.Councillors Andy Cole, Jeremy Blatchford and myself understood that this was to go to the full committee for decision.The error was in the hands of the officers not the councillors. North Somerset Council planning managers are in error. As usual elected councillors again picked up the flack they did not deserve. We councillors are told by senior officers and directors at North Somerset that people are finding it only too easy to complain; and we do not lose all complaints to the ombudsman. This response from those in authoritive positions for many years and are the paid servants of the council is not good enough. We have had too many complaints, and we have lost too many of them at North Somerset Central Area Planning Committee. We have to continually ask as elected councillors, why? Robert G Coleman - Nailsea East Ward