SIR – When looking at the national local government scene, let us be perfectly honest with ourselves, Councillor Bob Peachey was on-theball.

The committee system of local government has served our nation well since 1888. The American experience should have warned government that the elected mayor/elected leaders’ system was a recipe for cronyism and corruption.

Human nature being what it is the politically well-connected chameleons surround themselves with toady sycophants. Causing, at the taxpayer and council taxpayers’ expense, selfperpetuating oligarchies of ineptitude.

When I was first elected in 1972 councillors were not paid, the concept of public service a reality.

May I be permitted to urge members of the public to make their voices known?

TOM WAREING,

Redditch.