Only a few weeks ago Cllr Venk Shenoi was calling for an end to cabinet government but it now appears that his considerable intellect has been comandeered by Forest of Dean District Council Conservatives to shore up the party and boost morale.

If, as he asserts, local government is continuing as usual in the absence on sick leave of the council leader, Cllr Winship, this is due to the work of officers, certainly not to the influence of the ruling party which seems to be in complete disarray. One wonders what position Cllr Shenoi has been promised in return for his support.

Meanwhile, Conservatives are doing what they do best – stabbing each other in the back. The rumours swirling around the council offices of cabinet betrayal and in-fighting do no-one, least of all the poor, bewildered public, any good at all. If it is true, as one story has it, that there are inner and outer circles of portfolio-holders, with the inner taking the decisions unilaterally, then this is genuine cause for concern. 

Problems appear to stem from the time the six so-called 'Forest Blues' gradually trickled across the floor and now sit under the umbrella of the Independents. This depleted the ranks of the Conservatives and did nothing for the Independents, some of whom must view the Forest Blues as Quislings due to their split loyalties. It would be instructive to know who is pulling their strings.

Cllr Winship was blamed for the defections and some cabinet members, who wished to see her gone, jumped on the bandwagon. She was unable to pull the party together and the result has been a very divided cabinet, weak leadership and poor decision-making. We are now informed that she is resigning from leadership of the Conservative group at the end of August. 

If Cllr Winship also resigns from the leadership of the council, and it appears that it will be difficult for her to hold on to this position under a new leader of the Conservative group, the Forest of Dean District Council is likely to have to muddle on with no elected Leader for its council and, it appears, no chief executive until sometime next Spring. The fact that Cllr Robinson is a county councillor and board member of SWRDA in addition to running his own business indicates that his position as temporary Leader can only be a short-term stopgap. This is therefore a perfect opportunity to revert to the old system of an executive council as members of this would be forced to pull together through pressure from those of other political parties.

The Forest of Dean District Council is too small to support a cabinet system, where decisions are taken against the will of the full council of elected members by a group of six (or, worse still, just two) portfolio-holders. Informed debate on important questions is the only system whereby decisions should be made. Before each cabinet meeting at the moment portfolio-holders meet in private and it is then that the policy on a particular matter is decided.

This successfully stifles any true debate at the ensuing public cabinet meeting which is exacerbated by the refusal to allow questioning of cabinet decisions by any member of the public. What is even more serious is that cabinet overturns decisions made by full council, in spite of the assurance to all elected members when the system was adopted that full council would remain sovereign.

Elected members, you have an opportunity now to demand a restitution of the executive council and the public will thank you if you grasp the nettle. Cabinet government is not working. – Dr Daphne Pearson, Tinman's Green, Redbrook.

Essential service

Public transport is essential along the route of the A48, connecting all the villages to Lydney and Chepstow, and onward to Bristol and Cardiff.

I use the 73 bus for at least six or seven journeys a week and always find plenty of passengers on board.  The alternative is to add yet more vehicles to this already congested route and attempt to find a parking space in already crowded areas.

I am neither elderly nor disabled and would not presume to Dial-a-Ride.  – Name and address supplied, Aylburton.