The Letter to Ben Bradshaw MP of 12th June 2007 with very relevant points to be put to Hazel Ball, ECC’s Director of Community and Environment, was the obvious means whereby Jim should have been able to obtain responses from a City Council which had disenfranchised him. Surely, in a democracy, a City Council Officer should have enough respect for the City’s Member of Parliament to oblige him with suitable comments on matters raised by a constituent.
Jim received a letter from Ben dated 10th July stating that he had written again to Hazel, and that he would contact Jim again as soon he received a reply. There was still no reply by 16th July, but one was received shortly after, and Ben duly forwarded a copy.
Hazel’s reply to Ben was dated 12th July, and was as follows:
Dear Ben
Summerway Tennis Club
Thank you for your letter dated 12 July enclosing an email from Jim Harle dated 12 June 2007.
I have no comments to make on this and the Council is no longer corresponding with Mr Harle about Summerway Tennis Club.
Yours sincerely
Hazel Ball
Director Community and Environment
Cc: Portfolio Holder Environment & Leisure, Members File, General File
This reply speaks for itself.
The question has to be asked, “Why has ECC’s Director of Community and Environment declined to respond positively to a request from the City’s MP?”
Is it any wonder that the Author of this website is deeply concerned about Local Government Failure?
Is it reasonable to expect a competent Local Authority, supposedly democratic, to be able to provide proper answers and comments to such pertinent queries and observations?
