CORRESPONDENT J. R. Leach (Your Letters, Mar 20) asks me what has happened to consultation and democracy. Furthermore, he/she accuses me of telling him/her simply to do as he/she is told. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I was behind the scheme to allow public question time at council meetings. I have supported the move to area boards and I initiated the budget consultation process whereby we go around the borough with a series of "roadshows". All of these are advertised and open to the public with comment and questions being positively encouraged.

I am also prepared to explain how and why the council is spending money unlike any Conservative opponents. As for the assertion that "all councils waste taxpayers' money", this is hardly constructive debate or reasoned argument, but no doubt J R feels better for saying it.

Perhaps he/she is like another recent correspondent "Taxed Off" who feels money is only well spent when doing what he/she wants. Unfortunately councillors have to balance a range of conflicting priorities.

With regard to "Taxed Off", may I suggest he/she reads my letter of March 9 again. No mention is made of the level of council tax whatsoever! But speaking of the council tax, I will merely point out that only one Greater Manchester Council has a lower tax than Bury.

And that is a fact.

COUNCILLOR

JOHN BYRNE,

deputy leader

of the council.