• READING the New Journal last week, readers might be forgiven for wondering just what the council is responsible for.

First it says it was not responsible for boarding up the torched house in Prince of Wales Road, set alight three months previously (Arson fear as second blaze guts house, March 30).

That’s as may be, but it is surely responsible for ensuring that the person who lived there did, and if he did not, to take steps to ensure the safety of neighbours.

Councillors did not think they had a responsibility to attend a public meeting on the controversial new waste collection arrangements.

So far as Queen’s Crescent market is concerned they are content to see its decline. These are but three examples.

Elsewhere in the New Journal it is stated that sitting councillors can automatically be reselected by individual branches if members wish.
Members should carefully scrutinise the performance of their existing ward councillors, whatever their political complexion, before doing so.

Do they answer emails? Do they turn up at their surgeries? Do they make efforts to meet the concerns of their constituents on local matters such as fly-tipping? Do they lobby for important community resources such as community centres?

If they do not deliver then branches should look elsewhere.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED