CLLR Waterhouse (Times, January 17) appears to believe that we need an executive mayor to control the unruly officers of West Devon Borough Council.
So, one salaried mayor will succeed where 30 volunteer councillors have failed. Quite a challenge for a new mayor! Indeed, anyone who has ever watched the true-to-life TV comedy 'Yes Minister' will know that this is something of a naïve hope!
It is just as likely that a new mayor would form a cabal with the officers and increase the isolation of the 30 councillors who are supposed to reflect the diverse views of the people of West Devon.
A rapid decision-making process is a desirable aim, but it comes second in priority to making sensible decisions that best reflect the views of the people of West Devon. Would the recent decision to spend £30,000 of borough taxpayers money investigating new office options have been stopped if we had an executive mayor? Would we even have known about it?
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Peter Donkin
Tavistock Town Councillor
Chestnut Close
Bishopsmead
Tavistock