J C WARR, of Cora Linn, 76 De Tracey Park, Bovey Tracey, writes:

The report in the Advertiser/Post of May 10, headed 'Trivial – but roof tiles will have to go' should be recorded indelibly on the minds of all who are shouldering the burden of yet another exorbitant increase in council tax. Well said that councillor who remarked: 'Is it any wonder people wonder whether they get value for money when we spend time on something so trivial as this. You can hardly notice it.'

Trivial indeed when one takes into account other monstrosities which are erected in this beautiful area of the country, forced upon the population by powerful commercial interests that appear to attract only the minimum of resistance from planning authorities. Confronting the power of big business is one thing but standing up to an unfortunate resident, who has apparently been compelled due to the lack of availability to use some light grey roof tiles as an alternative to brown, is another. Our courageous development control committee is galvanised into action, backed up if necessary by the full weight of the Teignbridge solicitor and the magistrate's court. The word 'trivial' is too inadequate to describe such a decision. I would call it childish, pathetic and indefensible.

The names of those councillors who supported the motion should be displayed prominently on the front page of your newspaper to allow electors the opportunity in due course to rid themselves of those who perpetuate such excesses of bureaucracy. Not only have these narrow-minded individuals involved the property owner in unnecessary expense, they have helped also to squander valuable resources which have been poured into the coffers of the district finance department by council tax payers. We frequently hear of cuts to services and facilities provided on behalf of frail elderly, disabled and socially deprived persons, that the district council attempts to justify because of the need to reduce a budget shortfall, but how often are deficits addressed by reducing bureaucracy, waste, inefficiency, hospitality, and excessive salary and expense payments?

How effective has been the contribution of those senior council executives and managers who were appointed on over-generous salary scales on the pretext that such recruitment policies were necessary to attract the right calibre staff? I suggest that the local press has a duty to publicise more effectively examples of waste, inefficiency and bureaucracy within the district council for which the taxpayer is paying a heavy price, and to 'name and shame' responsible managers where appropriate. How are these ever-increasing sums paid to the council year by year being expended? Of this I am certain. A comprehensive expenditure analysis which identifies the true beneficiaries of this additional wealth will never voluntarily be made available to council tax payers.