MY comment on the Comprehensive Performance Assessment from the standpoint of a back bench district councillor is as follows:

1 Those matters for which the district council primarily exists are mostly judged to be carried out well. The report states that 'The council provides mainly good, core services to its residents'. These services are such things as dustbin collection, street cleaning, leisure facilities, grounds maintenance, recycling and children and young peoples activities, environmental health and planning, although the last mentioned is criticised for some aspects.

2 What is said to be unsatisfactory are all those introspective examinations of estimates of efficiency, setting of targets, discussing visions for the future, none of which in themselves achieve anything, but which these days are required to be done by the government, and which waste about half of our time.

3 The report is of course drawn up in modern jargon so that the sense of it is difficult to work out. It is written in what George Orwell in 1984 called Newspeak. I prefer straightforward, English myself.

Political infighting between councillors both across and within parties is mentioned and criticised adversely. But in a democracy this is bound to happen. The report implies that corporate agreement between all councillors and officers is needed; something that only happens in totalitarian regimes.

JOHN WINTERBURN, ward member for Bardon, Holbrook Road, Stratford.