Undemocratic to snub meeting

With regard to your article in last week’s Gazette [‘Leaders clash over bins controversy’] I can only support Labour Cllr Dave Wilson’s view.

Cllr Ben Fitter-harding’s claim that the proposed meeting would be a “waste of money” is ridiculous when compared with the vast sums (over £8 million) spent by the Conservative-led council on the vanity project of the Canterbury West multi-storey car park (shuttle buses from the park and ride facilities would have been a far cheaper, and less polluting option than introducing facilities to encourage even more cars into the city centre) and the even larger sum spent by the council on buying up the Whitefriars shopping area.

If Cllr Ben Fitter-harding is so convinced of his facts, allow the meeting to take place, and produce those facts.

His action in making the proposed meeting inquorate is completely against the democratic principles that should be part of local government.

As a life-long conservative I am appalled by some of their actions in recent years, which is why I voted for the Liberal Democrats’ Mike Sole at the last local election.

David Spencer

Dering Close, Bridge

■ I don’t believe it. It’s so sad that two elected councillors are seemingly putting personal dislike and silly boy point-scoring in the way of efficiently fulfilling their elected duties, namely to communicate and report back to the paying frustrated public.

Obviously, the terms of reference and reporting structure in creating Canenco was flawed or perhaps it was a convenient way for the council to avoid being in the direct fire for a service that has always been liable to failures, or perhaps has been set up to fail?

It seems Canenco has been allowed to fudge its accountability to the elected representatives. When the system Canenco uses was first considered, someone in the council I.T. department must have reviewed its suitability and ability to produce reporting and monitoring controls.

Yes, I have had to wait on the phone to report a missed collection to be told on several occasions it would be collected. On one occasion a foreman sent to check the bins allegedly reported back they weren’t available and yet they’d been placed outside the building days before. Come on and do me a favour and get real, Canenco/ Canterbury City Council.

T. Hutchins