IT’S A pity that your correspondent CNV Williams feels that my Overspend Angst is a simplistic remedy and yet he/she offers no alternative.
As a local taxpayer I am perfectly entitled to raise these matters with the council, I regard it as a duty and will continue to do so. We cannot simply sit back whilst £10 million overspends accrue, which services will be cut or reduced as a result?
As for commenting on where the responsibility lies, both senior staff (directors) on six-figure salaries, together with councillors on expenses are, in my opinion, jointly responsible and they are.
As to the number of councillors, is your correspondent aware that the 98 councillors cost a published total of £1.9 million per annum to the local taxpayer?
My point is that we do not need two layers of management and whilst the constitution may call for 98 councillors this council could operate satisfactorily with far fewer so what is wrong with investigating that option with a view to reducing needless costs?
I have not nor do I claim that my highlighted concerns and proposals answer all of the problems but we must start somewhere. Those items are just the tip of the iceberg as the council is now proposing to spend £1.2 million on replacement laptops.
When challenged on this matter one councillor’s facetious and arrogant response was to suggest buying quill pens. 
That is a measure of the complacency with which some councillors regard controlling costs – well of course it’s not their money, it is ours.
P M Withers
Clarendon Road
Trowbridge