As someone "mentioned in dispatches" since the local elections may I put the record straight?

I have not been part of Mrs Coleman's "on-going negotiations".

I hope she will repeat David Packham's invitation of three years ago to Tory leader Toby Sturgis.

Then David asked Toby to work with him to produce a budget but he declined and the Tories even withdrew from the executive and chairmanship of the important scrutiny committee.

Toby now states that "it's a sad day for North Wiltshire because no party can do anything constructive".

I agree. The world stands on the edge the abyss. We urge folk in Africa, Northern Ireland, Palestine and the Kashmir to work together.

Meanwhile, back in Wiltshire, councillors must not work together to empty the dustbins, process planning applications and provide re-cycling because "coalitions don't work"

Clearly Toby needs to think again and in the spirit of constructive community working I ask him and Mrs Coleman to consider the following:

Chair of council Peter Green (Tory)

Deputy chair of council Doreen Darby (Lib-Dem)

Leader of council, the Liberal Democrat leader

Chair of scrutiny Christine Reid (Labour)

The chair and deputy roles are largely civic and democratic, requiring sage like dignity, experience and personal integrity.

The leader should come from the largest group.

Chair of scrutiny needs to combine great experience, have an agile mind and be beholden to no one.

The named individuals are type cast for these roles. I also hope that Dick Tonge (Tory) would be involved in a budget committee because he is one of the few councillors in the returning set that understands big numbers.

On policy: Roadside collections for recycling another election pledge by all parties are already set for a modest start.

I urge the council to stick to the trend pursued grimly by David Packham to keep tax increases to a minimum.

Our target should be "no higher than inflation." Since the Tories have been unable to propose alternative budgets we ought to agree.

Linked with this I believe that we could make further savings and give more power back to the people by reforming the area committee system which is now largely a talking shop.

Non-central spending should be delegated as a commuted annual lump sum directly to the parishes and town councils for the general well being of their communities.

This would be efficient, more democratic and save parish councillors a lot of time and effort especially in winter.

Area forums could be convened only for specific reasons, for example to hear presentations on the Health Service.

On Goldiggers I have tabled a motion directing council to hold E&J (Redditch) to the contract without further delay or variations as suggested by David Packham prior to the election.

I will not vote for any group which cannot support my proposal.

Philip Allnatt

Independent Councillor

Lady Coventry Road, Chippenham