Wanted: real experts

Published: 25 June, 2010

• WE are told Islington Council will now have a Fairness Commission and an “expert committee” to make centralised planning decisions (Action, not more talk, May 28; Leave it to the experts, June 4).

Aside from the cost of the former, what Islington residents want to know is: who will sit on these new bodies; how and by whom they’ve been selected; and what will be the role for residents? 

In planning, as in fairness, local knowledge is all important.

Election as a councillor does not of itself guarantee expertise in any field.   

MEG HOWARTH
Ellington Street, N7

• I WAS delighted to hear at a meeting of Islington Council’s communities review committee this week that Lib Dem councillor Tracy Ismail fully supports the Labour council’s Fairness Commission, despite Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy having previously said that the commission was the last thing the borough needs.

I would call on all Lib Dem councillors to join Cllr Ismail in defying their leader and helping Labour take action to tackle the inequality and poverty that blight our borough.

CLLR JOE CALUORI
Labour, Mildmay ward