Council fury

Whilst I admire the attempts of Alasdair Bovaird to justify the loss of £10 million in some five years, plus further anticipated losses of £2.3 million or more, he must surely understand that local taxpayers have every right to be furious at the shocking

Whilst I admire the attempts of Alasdair Bovaird to justify the loss of £10 million in some five years, plus further anticipated losses of £2.3 million or more, he must surely understand that local taxpayers have every right to be furious at the shocking lack of financial control by Uttlesford District Council.

Those responsible for this debacle, both officers and councillors, should hang their heads in shame, at the very least. If they had been employed by a commercial organisation they would all have been sacked, and quite rightly too.

The report by Bill Roots, the independent investigator, is scathing in its condemnation of the council, stating that even after their terrible five years there is "no reliable system in force".

I believe that there should be a public enquiry into this fiasco at the very least and even an investigation by the National Audit Office. After all, it's our money that they have been wasting!

And, to cap it all, the council have increased our council tax by double the rate of inflation!

Tom Collins

Old Bell Close

Stansted Mountfitchet