THE petty political point scoring between K Riddick and P Webb (Letters, September 25 and October 2) is of little concern. However, the statement by Mr Webb that 'prior to these elections seven of the 14 councillors were co-opted onto the town council' is completely untrue and should be corrected.
At the local council elections in Mary 2007 eleven of the 14 sitting councillors, some of whom had been previously co-opted onto the council, put themselves forward for election. There were no other candidates and those eleven were declared elected.
Shortly after the election one councillor resigned and the town council quite properly co-opted four people to fill the vacant seats. So in 2007 the council had ten elected and four co-opted members.
Earlier this year two of the co-opted councillors resigned and, following requests by the required minimum number of electors, by-elections were held and two new councillors elected. Of the present council, 12 are elected councillors and two are co-opted councillors.
Contrary to the statement by Mr Webb, there has not been at any time in the past five years that I have served as a councillor seven co-opted members on the council.
Normally the town council does not respond to letters in newspapers and I write as an individual councillor and not on behalf or for the town council.
Charles Letchford
6 Vicarage Road
Okehampton