SIR,

I was disappointed, but not surprised, to read that Monmouth Town Council will not be funding the CCTV cameras in town.

Despite an undertaking to further investigate the issue, following a 1,300-signature petition, the council have hedged the matter for many months until finally declaring that it will not be considered until 2013.

It begs the question 'What use is the town council if it ignores the will of the electorate?'

That it chooses to ignore the electorate is hardly surprising, as only eight of the 16 councillors hold any form of mandate.

At the last election, six were unopposed in their wards and therefore no vote was required. Of the remaining 10 (elected) councillors, two have since resigned.

Those who resign their posts can be replaced in one of two ways; either by another election within their ward or via a co-opting process, in which nominees are interviewed by the existing town council.

The town council claimed that elections would be costly and chose therefore to co-opt the replacements.

Thus, we have only eight 'elected' town councillors.

This is hardly democratic and, bearing in mind the imbalance brought about by having six 'unopposed' councillors it is reasonable to expect that the town council would have held elections for the replacements, regardless of cost.

This town, to the best of my knowledge, is the only town in the UK which is not investing money into new technology and the infrastructure to support public space surveillance.

This is not just against common sense, bearing in mind the significant influence that CCTV imagery has had in the recent convictions following riots in London, Manchester et al, but goes against the wishes of residents, business-owners and visitors to Monmouth, so clearly expressed in the petition.

Two options now present themselves; independent candidates stand at the next elections to bring the town council screaming and kicking into the 21st Century or we demand that the town council, with its largely figurehead role, be disbanded.

The former would require at least nine independent candidates, the latter would probably be far more straightforward.

The town council is in charge of flowers and fun runs and, regardless of its history and heritage, these roles could easily be absorbed by county council staff.

The money saved in running the town council could pay for CCTV.

Brian Ramsey

(Monmouth)