SIR — Last Friday's Free Press report "We'll sort council out" quoted Colin Hill, deputy leader of the cabinet, that he would make no apology for the controlling Conservative group's hard-nosed approach to rooting out the source of the council's difficulty.

I have no concerns about political control by the Conservatives. Indeed, I welcome this development as it allows for focus and accountability. Under current legislation, the cabinet, as a formally constituted committee, has to be politically balanced.

At the Cabinet meeting of October 4, as the only non-Conservative member present — Eddie May, Labour, had resigned, Keith Ross, Independent, was in Poland on a Dulverton Town twinning, and Sally de Renzy-Martin was attending a Watchet Town Council meeting — I raised the following issues concerning the unit reviews:

1. Why were there only two councillors, both Conservatives, involved in the unit reviews?

2. There was no indication, in the report, as to how the reviews were conducted.

3. As the words "must" and "had already happened" were used in the verbal report, I asked why had not a motion been placed before the cabinet. This was especially important as the futures of several officers were under discussion.

The cabinet was informed by Cllr Hill that the newly elected Cllr Christine Lawrence had been selected because of her experience. I suggested that, as a consequence of the importance of the review, there should have been at least three councillors selected, politically proportionally balanced.

The question about methodology was fully answered by an officer, Alistair Stewart. The same officer then presented the motion, as set out publicly in the minutes of that meeting. I was able to support the motion and the extent of the review.

However, I continue to be concerned that the majority party have not taken on the full implications of political proportionality. The Conservatives appear to be selective in their understanding of the concept.

For example, at last council meeting on October 27, it was agreed that the interviewing panel for the selection of the new chief executive should be balanced, and the rural economy working group should not.

In view of the tenor of last week's report and the importance of political proportionality in a political council, Cllrs Ross, Stokes and myself have requested that the officers present a paper to cabinet at the next meeting on Monday, November 15, on the full legal implications of the new scenario.

Peter Humber,

Liberal Democrat District Councillor.