I READ with concern Conservative councillor Peter Goldsworthy's letter regarding the cabinet system in use at Chorley Borough Council (Citizen, October 12).

Like Mr Goldsworthy, I am in favour of the new system intended to make the council more responsible and the cabinet members who have particular portfolios of responsibility more accountable for actions taken and policies pursued within the various departments.

Mr Goldsworthy suggests that there are "restricted agendas and a lack of information at full council meetings".

This is not so. Any member of the council can raise any issue about any subject that the executive committee have discussed. All the executive committee reports are circulated to ALL councillors.

The fact that meetings last less than an hour might suggest to someone more impartial than Mr Goldsworthy that councillors like him can't be bothered to read the reports.

I, for my sins, am the Labour chair of one of the two scrutiny committees. The other chaired by a Conservative who is also a prospective Parliamentary candidate. My vice-chair is a Liberal Democrat. That seems to be fairly democratic.

I, and I am sure my fellow chairman does likewise, make every attempt to encourage backbenchers, which is what we all are outside the cabinet to fully question, scrutinise, bring to account both officers and executive members when we have reports.

Mr Goldsworthy has been involved with that. The whole point about scrutiny committees is that they should reflect all political views and they do.

It really doesn't matter who chairs them. Mr Goldsworthy complains about lack of independence, I suspect that his real gripe is that the Tories don't run cabinet, the executive and the scrutiny committees in Chorley. Maybe then he would be satisfied. I suspect he will have a long wait.

Councillor Alan Whittaker

Chair of scrutiny committee B.