Councillor, you’re a volunteer

Published: 24 September 2010

• PAUL Dimoldenberg uses inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation in an attempt to undermine the Conservative council in Westminster (Volunteers plan a cloak for massive service cuts, Letters, September 10).

I thought the days of Labour spin had passed.

It is implicit that essential services such as policing and maintenance won’t be given out to volunteer bodies and the pool of volunteers that are being looked for will act as adjuncts to what we already have and maybe to improve on what is already there. 

He also mentions that licensing would be handled by volunteers. This is the situation that currently exists as three of the four members of a licensing panel are councillors who have no formal qualification regarding licensing. In fact local councils currently function on a voluntary basis. 

A candidate volunteers for the roll of councillor and then is voted in by the community.

What qualification does Cllr Dimoldenberg have which makes his opinions any more valid than the next person’s? Getting around 300 people to vote for you is hardly a qualification.

In an integrated community everyone feels a responsibility to keep an eye out for others and in the process improve coherence and community spirit and pride.

It is always easier to sling mud, especially from the safety of being in the Labour group at Westminster, as it’s highly unlikely we will ever get to test your mettle.

Troy Wear
Address supplied, W1