THE proposal for the controlling Labour group on Blackburn with Darwen Council to form a special 'cabinet,' similar to that of the government at Westminster, with nine top councillors in charge of making decisions is a bureaucratic system gone mad.

What of all the other councillors of all parties who will not be able to speak up and voice their opinion, other than at the meetings of the whole council, which will be held only twice a year?

This proposed cabinet will put their expenses from £3,600 a year to £10,000 a year and the council leader will receive £17,000.

It seems to me that Blackburn with Darwen Council is able to please itself over putting up members' expenses.

They are now making what was once a voluntary part-time job into a highly-paid one. They try to save money by closing special schools and the old people's homes, that are now occupied by refugees.

The voters ought to think of the great expense of councillors' allowances, which are high, even at £374,000 and set to rise, while taxpayers suffer a heavy burden of a town that is so badly in debt.

Also, Blackburn has one of the highest council tax rates in the country and has market stalls that have been empty a long time, as well as many empty shops, when Blackburn used to be one of the shopping centres of the North.

LESLIE BURROWS (Mr), Bonsall Street, Blackburn.

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