I WAS accused last week in your columns of being out of date in my insistence on the need for mayors of local authorities to be impartial in public and in council discussions. Allow me to defend myself.

It is true that the traditional role goes back a long way in our history. I think it was Speaker Lenthall of an early House of Commons who told King Charles I: 'I have neither eyes nor tongue to speak but this House is pleased to direct me.' He was speaking not only for his time but also stating an essential element of our democratic system as it has evolved over five hundred years.

Today, it is no different. You have only to Google 'civic mayor' to read any number of local councils who tell their mayors to not take sides; some actually advise their mayor to distance him or herself from sensitive and contentious issues. There is an excellent new 'Handbook for Civic Mayors' issued by a local government body called IDEA, available on the web, which covers these matters comprehensively and persuades me I was right when I wrote to you the other day.

Besides, common sense tells us that the person in chair of a meeting who shows bias is a menace. Experience of professional and business, as well as council, life indicates that when the chair takes sides, members become disgruntled and frustrated; and they may well be prevented from reaching the best decision. And how easy it is to display bias — not simply by an incautious comment during a meeting, but even more by adopting a position for or against in earlier discussion or in public before the meeting.

Of course, mayors must still seek to represent the people of their ward, but they have also to represent the electorate of the whole authority; and this is a tricky balancing act. Some mayors do it well, others are less clever.

On the whole, over the years, I believe Tavistock and West Devon have been fortunate in the even-handedness of their mayors. Long may it remain so.

Dick Eberlie

Vigo Mews

Parkwood Road

Tavistock