Sir, - A Spelthorne Borough councillor has had a letter published in First', the Local Government Association (LGA) journal for councillors.

He complains that the new local government structure leaves backbench members being marginalised. This raises two important issues.

Firstly, he is a member of the ruling Conservative group in Spelthorne - how typical of the Tories, who are notorious for disagreements between borough and county councillors and their MP, for one to claim to be excluded from the democratic process.

If he feels he has lost powers, he needs to speak with his party colleagues, not the LGA!

Secondly, and more importantly, he could consider the example set by Spelthorne's Surrey County councillors.

We meet monthly and the county has provided members with a local allocation for local projects.

We have (with cross-party agreement and excellent support from Surrey County Council officers) provided funding for a range of schemes, including road junction improvements; £10,000 worth of support for Crossroads carers' respite scheme; CCTV cameras in Ashford and Stanwell; cycle barriers and the secondary schools skills centre' project.

There is a list of numerous other schemes which have benefited Spelthorne residents. Our local committee meetings have had active involvement from the local community, who attend and raise questions.

My county colleagues and I spend a considerable amount of time working with residents, to make our borough an even better place to live.

New structures in local government need councillors to think forward and use their initiative to improve their local community.

It is disappointing to hear a Tory councillor belittling the role of councillors in our community - the borough's Tories need a bit more imagination if we are to achieve improvements in our local area! - Mark Hayhurst, County Councillor for Stanwell and Stanwell Moor.

January 31, 2003 09:30