Bill Montgomery's last Notebook (Hush-hush changes made to a very expensive logo', Hendon Times Group, November 1) reported my observation that local government needed more focus on the smaller community, defined by local town centres.

After detailed study, evidence supporting this conclusion put before Barnet Council, the Local Government Commission and Central and London government bodies, raised matters of significant public interest which should concern your readers.

The quality and competence of local government and its services are, I believe, seriously diminished by arbitrary political and administrative boundaries.

The potential for services to correspond more naturally with diverse local need is jeopardised and distorted.

More focused information on which local public and elected representatives may properly scrutinise and consider community expenditures is not available.

Loss of confidence in the political process must sorely explain and justify diminishing turnout at local elections.

Central government makes worthy and strenuous efforts to remedy the 'democratic deficit' through its programme of modernisation.

Maybe it is too early to judge its effects.

Barry Fineberg

Nether Street, Finchley

November 14, 2001 17:59