8:10am Monday 15th March 2010
SIR – The economic crisis has had one good outcome in that it has brought into focus the profligacy of town and county halls.
It’s no longer acceptable for them to apply annual council tax increases greater than inflation. Instead they must rein in their capital plans and operational expenditure.
But will councillors make the sacrifice? Will the scalp of a chief executive be offered to achieve the cost cut? No, it will be the front line troops providing vital care in the community, support for the elderly and youth workers that lose their jobs.
We cannot afford palatial civic buildings filled with unnecessary, overpaid bureaucrats with their own pyramids of managers, executives and directors who retire on huge pensions at the council tax payer’s expense. It’s time to replace the two-tier system of a county and six district councils with a single, slimmer unitary authority.
This decision is too important to leave to the councillors, none of whom would want to give up their meal ticket. If they believe in democracy they should let the people decide. A referendum should be held coincident with the next local authority elections.
Robert Hartwright
Worcester
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