• IN response to Mick Farrant’s letter regarding the loss of quality in public service’s works executed by local authorities (Look at who controls our services, May 2), this was made possible in the Local Government Act 2000 which aimed to speed up decision-making in local authorities.

This could be done thanks to the cabinet system created by this act. There needed to be no more community involvement for planned spending proposals but from now on leave it
to the contractors who bid for the contracts with great interest and who have the skill set.

While there is nothing wrong in principle with running a cabinet system in local authorities, there is still an outstanding issue of specific training and preparation needed for the members involved.

It’s a bit like when schools wanted to become academies and councillors really needed to go back to school again.

HERMAN TRIBELNIG
Camden Town
Urban Design
Improvement Society