OH DEAR, Brian Hunt, secretary of the so-called Association of Independents, has got it wrong yet again.
He claims (You Say, June 2) that Labour members of the city planning committee think that "major planning decisions should be made by unelected officers".
If he had been at the planning meeting on May 22, or read the minutes, he would know that members unanimously supported a proposal that minor planning decisions be delegated to officers so that elected members can spend more time on major applications.
Any councillor will still be able to bring even a minor application to committee, on request. Even Independent member Mike Layland voted for these proposals.
Mr Hunt describes government initiatives that reward excellence as "blackmail". Under these arrangements, Wychavon's planning department receives £235,000 for running a greatly improved service, while Worcester's receives the £75,000 minimum for poor performance.
I think that Worcester citizens deserve a far better service and they will surely welcome any extra government cash paid to the city as a consequence.
Since the beginning of this year, Brian Hunt has had 27 letters published in the Evening News, 19 of which attacked the Labour Party or its members and none attacked the Conservatives.
Am I the only one who is thoroughly bored by his vitriol? Surely every reader has now got his basic message - Independents are anti-Labour.
PAUL DENHAM,
Labour member of Planning Committee,
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