17/05/11…’Not enough officers’ at the count says Thame Cllr

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to your article re the problems on the day of the count for the local elections. I am one of the Thame Town Councillors who signed Councillor Dyer’s motion, as it is right that the Returning Officer should be held to account, but there are further points that I would like to make.

It was obvious to anyone attending the count that everyone working there was doing the very best s/he could, but the problem was that there were just not enough officers for the amount of work.

The ruling group on SODC pride themselves on saving money and many posts have been cut in the joint work with the Vale of White Horse Council. Therefore the buck stops with SODC’s Cabinet, who make decisions and not the officer employed by them.

It was very annoying and tiring that the count on 6th May took so long, but it was not a matter on the same scale of importance as housing or benefits issues for example.

Can the SODC Councillors, who are members of the ruling group, assure local people that there are enough officers to deal with matters such as these as quickly as is needed by residents in the SODC area?

Councillor Mary Stiles
Thame Town Council (North Ward)