SIR,

I went to the consultation session in Monmouth last Monday and wish to thank Paul Matthews, and the many officers and councillors (of all parties) who attended and lent us their ears.

Readers will be well aware that the Welsh Government (WG) has, unilaterally, told Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) that they have to cut their budget by £23 million in the next three years.  However, many of the ideas we had on how to cut expenditure and make money are not within the remit of the County Council – and what consultation has the Welsh Government undertaken?

Rather than have these cuts imposed from on high, I would like to see the WG hold similar sessions throughout Wales.  At the MCC session I attended everyone realised that we have to work smarter in this tough new world but MCC can't do it alone. It involves the WG working with the county councils, town councils, and others to come up with acceptable solutions.

I trust that this course of action will be pursued but, in the meantime, congratulations to MCC and many thanks for treating us as responsible citizens.

Vivien Mitchell

(Monmouth)