Roy Phillips, of St Joseph's Court, Carlton Place, Teignmouth, writes:

Teignmouth's deputy mayor's letter, published last week, makes strange reading. She states she is fully aware of the correct procedure: why, then, has this question of spending £9,000 been dragging on?

All councillors are, or should be, given a copy of the rules and procedures, including standing orders. If there is an issue, then consulting standing orders is the first step. If, in more recent years, the town clerk is allowed to spend – without permission of the majority of the council – more than the £1,000 as it was in my day, then the minutes recording this change should be produced. It is as simple as that.

This old chestnut of Dawlish's precept that the town clerk likes to quote repeatedly ignores the fact that Dawlish Town Council, like Newton Abbot Town Council and a lot of others, are quality councils. Teignmouth had this option some ten odd years ago, but while a few of us wanted that status, and all that entailed, the majority did not want the extra work this would involve and require from councillors.

The statutory obligations of Teignmouth Town Council have remained unchanged since l974. While we were the first to apply for Quality Council status, we, as the second largest council in Teignbridge, remain with no more status or authority than that of a small parish council. That is why Teignbridge still dictates what will or will not happen or be done in the town.

While we have six district councillors on the town council, all they can do is ask. That is why they are helpless over the proposed closure of the public toilets – a basic service; over who receives the money from the Morrisons development; and the new Carlton Theatre, to mention but a few of the many decisions adversely affecting our town.

A Quality Council can require services to be returned to its control, such as management of our Den – the only green open space readily available to all 16,000 of us.

Finally, when I was was first elected to the town council in l979, the yearly precept was £12,000-£13,000. It is now some £300,000, yet there has been no increase in the council's statutory duties. What has been added on were functions that Teignbridge district and Devon County councils wanted to get rid of.

As for the deputy mayor stating that the town clerk was publically humiliated, what was the chairman of the meeting doing to allow this to happen? They had the powers to stop it, to rebuke whoever stepped out of line, and – if needs be – suspend the meeting. After all, the town clerk's presence at meetings is only to advise the council, when asked to by the chairman. Or, if councillors ask, through the chair, for the town clerk's advice on an issue raised.

No more, no less. It is the councillors who decide, by a majority vote, on any action the council takes.

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