• CAMDEN Tory councillors moaned about the “£30k” cost of the forthcoming by-election in Highgate.

For many months the CNJ has carried horrific stories and letters about council flats with damp, mould, and mushrooms, an increase in homeless people camping out in Tottenham Court Road, a damning governmental report and £500,000 fine for failure to provide adequate fire safety precautions, and evicted residents placed in hotels by the council, but forced to move every nine days.

Hardly ever does a cabinet councillor respond. The only response we get is an anonymous “spokesperson” saying we treat the safety of all our residents seriously. The 39 Labour councillors responsible for these horrific conditions remain silent.

The total costs of councillors’ allowances is about £1,000,000 with possibly a similar sum in support staff costs. This would pay the costs of building five council rent flats.

All decisions are seemingly now made by senior officers and rubber-stamped by cabinet members with back-benchers nodding decisions through fearing to have the whip removed or being deselected if they dare vote against the party whip. Why not dispense with councillors?

Alternatively, to show voters that they are worth their allowances, they could write letters to the CNJ even if trying to defend or explain the myriad complaints. Perhaps they could also explain what they actually do other than attend meetings.

Some councillors deal with huge caseloads, trying to put right the decisions of officers, and publicity on this would help their cause.

We read the odd timid criticism from the five Liberal Democrats and three Conservatives; why are they not more forceful in the media? We need a democracy rather than being governed by a self-serving bureaucracy.

MICK FARRANT, NW5