Scrutinising the scrutiny...

IT’S Our County is a political party no different from any other party.

Herefordshire Independents are the only county council members free of political allegiance.

Do people feel that such an important committee as Overview and Scrutiny should have its chairman and vice-chairman from a minority party?

I do not think so, and in any case this committee has a majority from the controlling party and therefore you cannot call it a scrutiny committee.

It should have a majority from a joint opposition group to do its job.

There are sour grapes because Cllr Alan Seldon lost the chairmanship after being elected as a member of the second largest group – Herefordshire Independents.

He wished to become leader of the Independents, but under a democratic vote did not get the position. In defecting to It’s Our County, he knew he would be in danger of losing the chairmanship, so it was his choice.

The Herefordshire Independents left it to the annual council meeting to put forward a new chairman (Sebastian Bowen).

The committee positions are dealt with by the council leader and group leaders. It’s Our County, leader, Cllr Powers, would have been at those meetings. At the annual meeting, a democratic vote took place. Democracy in action.

CLLR PETER McCAULL Herefordshire Independent, Leominster South