LAST week Mr Taylor wrote to you in connection with the forthcoming elections to make clear that, in deciding how to cast his vote, he is not interested in things said in the past.

He is entitled to his view of course but I fear that to express such a sentiment at this time sends out a very undesirable message to senior officers and councillors at the town hall - that they can carry on as before with impunity. I wonder if that is what Mr Taylor intended, for it is a fact that in the recent past councillors have been misled into making decisions which have cost us millions. It is also a fact that nobody has been asked by the council to explain or justify this behaviour. Does anyone really want more of the same? Yet if such conduct and the councillors' tolerance of it are not brought out into the open and questioned, there is nothing to stop either continuing.

Don't we in fact expect our officers and councillors to be truthful and competent? If so, is it unreasonable to expect our councillors to take action against those whose conduct falls short? I hope Mr Taylor shares those expectations and will reconsider his view. Then he can ask those touting for his vote not just what blessings they promise us for the future but what they have done so far to prevent further betrayal of taxpayers' interests by those whose commitment to strict truth has not always been as robust as we might have hoped. In other words, Mr Taylor can hold councillors (of any persuasion) to account for their actions (or inaction) and vote according to what he makes of their explanations. That's how our democracy is meant to work. Please give it a chance Mr Taylor.

John Wilson,

Morecambe

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.