• I WAS saddened and perplexed to read in the December 9 edition of the CNJ that Cllr Leo Cassarani has been deselected and thus will not be allowed to fight his seat in the May council election.

Leo is an excellent councillor. He is hardworking, thoughtful, and articulate and responsive to his constituents. Surely these are exactly the qualities needed in local councillors.

He definitely meets, “the high standards that we and the voters expect of elected councillors” described by Mike Katz in your report.

Planning applications and decisions can be a point of conflict between residents and the council. It is legitimate, and I would say desirable, that councillors sometimes “call in” decisions for a review when they think this is in the interest of the community.

This can be seen both as supporting the community and being disloyal to the council; a dilemma for a thoughtful councillor with integrity.

My MP, Tulip Siddiq, has spoken often of voting against the whip in parliament when she judged it necessary. She’s not voting fodder so why should councillors be?

In addition to the councillor activities Leo outlined last week he also has been very active in promoting the green agenda.

With other Swiss Cottage residents I have been on several green walks around the ward, with the three councillors and council officers, identifying green areas that could be improved for community use and considering potential improvements to the built landscape.

Leo also supported flood victims of Swiss Cottage in their efforts to achieve improvements to the drainage system earlier this year.

I think a “call-in” of the decision to not let Leo past the first hurdle in selection is in order; it would serve democracy and the Swiss Cottage / South Hampstead voters who are being denied the opportunity to vote for – or not vote for – a councillor who has served them well for almost four years.

MARY RYAN, NW6