VALE of Glamorgan Council observers will have taken some time to view the ‘Final Proposals for the Revenue Budget 2012/2013’ report which went to Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

The 24 pages of text relating to the council’s financial position is a mixture of technical analysis, apprehension about the future financial position, statements of the need to make cuts particularly with regard to social services, a suggestion of a 1.7 per cent rise in our council tax bill, and worrying indications of job losses.

What is most striking is the lack of any democratic involvement with this decision making process.

The existing political administration has no stated manifesto authority relating to cuts and there is no indication of any debate within the current political slogans and waffle being stuffed through our letter boxes.

We need a transparent strategy to determine future cuts, a strategy that involves the community in various ways; genuinely explains, listens and acts on the result; sets principles under which decisions will be taken; makes better use of staff suggestions, and publishes the result of that process.

This decision is about cutting hundreds of thousands of pounds, it’s about cutting services to vulnerable people, it’s about people’s jobs, and we have little say: just once every four years without any sensible debate.

It’s time our political decision takers involved tax payers in what services to keep or cut.

Dennis Harkus FocusBARRY supporter