With reference to the openness pledge on cabinet-style council (March 1). If this has been given by those who regularly promise public consultation, watch out democracy. Cabinet-style government could very easily turn out to be cabal-style government.

Democracy relies upon openness and not decisions taken by the few behind closed doors, as through openness comes accountability.

Salaries may be on the way for leader and top members. With the last published list of Councillor's expenses, many York residents will have assumed this was already the case.

The council has just announced cuts in amenities and a Council Tax rise well ahead of inflation. Well, watch out for a similar dose of measures as this may well be required to pay for full-time councillors and even less accountability.

Unfortunately, when one is in the hands of a monopoly supplier, the only things you can be sure of are increased bills and fat-cat bosses.

Richard Lamb,

Greystoke Road,

Rawcliffe, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.