Councillors lose powers

Letter: The most recent letter from Roger Bruton in his campaign to highlight the failings of our current local government system seems to lay the blame on council officers.

Although they may well be culpable - indeed, there undoubtedly are officers who thwart well-intentioned councillors and others - the real problems are to be found else where.

There are government pressures to make units larger under the heading of rationalisation, as is happening in Shropshire.

The regional assemblies, government regional offices and various quangos take decision making away from councils but at the same time impose many tasks and restrictions on councils which councils through it's officers have to obey. Need I mention EU legislation?

Changes far more recent than 1974 reorganisation under Edward Heath have further removed councils from local accountability. Both at local and national levels, far more power lies in the hands of cabinets. A small group of councillors make the decisions for the boroughs politicised, while ordinary councillors are further away from the decision making.

MPs equally are generally less involved in decision making and legislation. Although MPs should have a role in local government, surely they should focus on matters which are central government responsibility.

The complexity of the current system needs to be simplified so that council officers and councillors can serve people in their communities both more responsively and sympathetically in relation to local needs and aspirations.

Tony Fowler,

Eastwood Road,

Great Barr.