Who’s in charge? (From Malvern Gazette)

Who’s in charge?

2:50pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Letters

 

I SOMETIMES used to wonder who was in charge of policy making in this district.

Was itthe leader and elected councillors or the chief executive and his heads of service?

After reading the letters in last week’s Gazette I am no longer in doubt.

In an extraordinary letter,the chief executive puts the councillors well and truly in their place describing their views as inaccurate, misleading and insulting.

He dismisses criticisms ofthe process leading to changes in the waste collection arrangements as being mischievous and asks those engaged in these negative activities to devote their energies to more positive effect.

Mr Bocock is a salaried public servant and as such he has no business to be making such comments in the media.

I hope thatfor once the councillors will make it clear thatitis the elected representatives who determine policy.

I came away from listening to a recent meeting ofthe council with the impression thatit had become completely dysfunctional.

It seemed to me to be over politicised and the leadership seemed far too preoccupied with imposing whips on their party members rather than looking after the interests ofthe taxpayers.

It is not surprising the public is disenchanted with present day politics.

ALISTAIR MACMILLAN

Malvern