SEEMS the council made a start on improving their democracy on Tuesday, changing their standing orders to allow the leader to take verbal questions.

I am rather flummoxed as to why the previous system was dropped. Not only that, cabinet members are excluded from being questioned. 

The old system gave the committee chairman a chance in moving their minutes, for ordinary members to ask questions on them. Some minutes took hours to be passed but it was all open to the public. 

Now they are immune to criticism and it seems like the actual council meeting is now a big farce. 

The cabinet system may speed things up but is it democratic?

I would love to see the council open again but for the time being, you can forget about the city of democracy!

Jim Dyer 
Stockton Road 
Newport