Dear Sir,

Cllr Warburton’s application of faulty logic in his letter demonstrates why the Independents have never won a By Election in the town since 2007.

Firstly it was his Leader of the Independents who chose to resign knowing he could not represent Neville Ward on the Town Council, all the way from Hartlepool and he did the honourable thing. So I am surprised that Cllr Warburton the only Great Aycliffe Independent likely to stand again (now calling himself just Independent) did not support his leader in that decision.

On average the Town Council by natural wastage, resignations and deaths has had one By Election a year since 1979.

Had Labour not contested these seats as Cllr Warburton wished, then the Independents would have won. They did not have to, and could have left them uncontested leaving the Council to co opt in all saving election costs for 5 seats. The BNP would have won a seat had Labour not contested Simpasture.

If Cllr Warburton was so serious to save the electorate money perhaps he will explain why he and all the Independents continued to claim their allowances after I as “just an ordinary member of the public”… publicly questioned and proved at a Council meeting over 3 years ago that councillors could forgo their annual £1000.

He said he didn’t know they could, but continued to claim anyway. In total, Councillors will have received over £30,000 per year from 2007-2013 = £190,000, money that could have been used to cut council tax or support services and facilities. yet not one Independent offered to forgo it.

As it happens the Independents, from their poor attendances at meetings to having nothing positive to propose, lost every By Election including seats they won in 2007 whilst Labour increased its share of the vote in low turnouts from 46% to 54%.

As my memory serves the opposition also have husbands and wives on the Council. Is Councillor Warburton suggesting they resign? I have attended all meetings of the council and its committees except five, as a member of the public, that is more than any councillor, and they are paid! I have asked more questions as a member of the public than he or any other Independent. I intend to stand for election next year and if elected will not claim my allowance. In times of economic hardship and cuts being imposed by central government, on everyone, it cannot be justified and councillors should shoulder their share of the cuts.

I ask Alan Warburton to compare my thirteen years previously on the Council (all unpaid) with his own, paid, lack of achievement, then consider why the electorate have not voted any independent back. Labour is by no means perfect but when compared to most of the Independents have done very well and the public are not daft.

Arun M Chandran