Packet article "Attempt to dethrone county council leader" - I do not agree with the privatisation of services, and have indeed signed the live petition.

Unless privatisation comes with a cast iron guarantee that no jobs will be lost and no extra costs will be passed onto the public then I believe the risk factor is too high. I additionally found Mr Robertson’s statement on local radio that “people are signing the petition because they do not understand” a little condescending. If the public lack understanding then that is due to a lack of openness and transparency from the relevant council members, maybe the public should have been better informed from the onset.

However, I do not believe the recent decision to have a vote of no confidence in the leader of the council, Alec Robertson, is the right move. In my opinion the cabinet are tenacious in ignoring the wishes of the majority of councillors and this clearly appears undemocratic.

Gill Martin (sent by email)