AS usual Jeremy Davis (Letters, January 13) makes some interesting, albeit negative, points regarding the quality of local democracy and neighbourhood representation as he perceives the recent actions of a minority of local councillors.
He hopes the solution may be found within the new Localism Bill. Unfortunately, no amount of legislation will ever be able to overcome the existence of arrogance or bullying by some elected members to others — and Standards Committees throughout the length and breadth of England are dealing constantly with such incidents.
The local elections in May will provide electors with the opportunity to vote for the person(s) whose prime drive is an overwhelming commitment to their particular ward, puts that community first, and their political party well second. Those councillors, so mandated, should have the resolve not to use, or be a victim of, any group practice that will deflect them from that objective.
So often, votes are given solely on the basis of national party political affiliations, and the local community dimension, not the major consideration, with the national media exacerbating the situation. Any television or newspaper reporting of local elections is always in the box of 'how many councils each political party has gained or lost', never ever about local services or the issues that many local councillors devote their political lives to resolve.
This too can make it difficult to vote for a highly suitable person who may not be of one's own political persuasion or even an Independent.
West Devon Borough Council has operated democratically for 37 years with a mixture of those aligned to political parties and Independents. There has never been overall political control by one group. Long may it continue.
Cllr Margaret Garton (Ind)
Buckland Monachorum Ward