Hail the chief!

KIRKLEES council has decided that it is best that we have a leader elected by themselves rather than a mayor elected by the people who live in Kirklees.

They justify this by claiming that consultation took place and that there was not a lot of interest shown by the general public.

Let’s look at the consultation. This took place between September 14 and November 13, 2009 and consisted of dedicated web pages on the council’s website with a feature on the home page of the council’s website.

There was a YouTube video of Clr Mehboob Khan setting out the options and the council’s preferred option and raising awareness of the consultation through Twitter. Not everyone has a computer and internet and those who do might not be in the habit of connecting to the Kirklees website.

Statutory notices were published in local newspapers (cost £5,200) but who reads statutory notices?

The idea was promoted via the Area Committees. Only a handful of people attend these.

Then there was an article in the Kirklees Together magazine. I can just recollect this and if the council really wanted our involvement it should have been on the front page.

My understanding is that this magazine is delivered to every household in Kirklees and that a separate leaflet was not produced as the cost would have been excessive. It could have been delivered at the same time as the magazine. When I look at the way the council waste money I feel a better job should have been done on this consultation.

What price democracy?

Derek M Firth

Deighton