I am of the opinion that councillors should be entrusted with greater and more varied responsibilities, when compared with the present position cases of our local authorities viz Bournemouth and Poole.

The majority of members when they are firstly elected find few posts available which would give them a fair amount of work and justify their calling as councillors.

Prior to the change of the system concerning committee work and the establishing of the cabinet control process, we had active administrative committees who were in full control of their respective departments.

The membership of these bodies averaged about 12 or more and the list of vacancies when the municipal elections took place allowed the new members to obtain places on the various committees and so give them all an opportunity to take part in the running of the council.

Recommendations were submitted to the monthly council meetings, ensuing debates took place and all members were given an opportunity to take part in such discussions.

Matters discussed and resultant reports of debates etc including the names of the members who took part were regularly reported.

Unfortunately the citizens of Bournemouth do not now enjoy the news of council work as they did prior to the introduction of the cabinet rule which is now the order of the day.

The majority of our councillors are inclined to be silent members with little or no opportunity to submit their views or arguments.

The old system was democratic with the whole membership taking part or having the opportunity to take part, and must be compared to the present regime whereby a cabinet of approximately 10 members are appointed to represent the various council departments and 99 per cent of what decisions these members decide holds sway and their opinions are guaranteed to be accepted without question. We do hear of the activities of the planning panel and licensing panel, relics from the previous system, and I suppose that via government regulations these two bodies must be established and their proceedings be published otherwise the council is virtually a huge rubber stamp to carry out the decrees of the cabinet.

PHILIP WHITELEGG, Romney Road, Redhill Park, Bournemouth