Cathy Koo, of Chapel Steps, Kingsbridge, writes:

Julian Brazil’s warning letter in last week’s Gazette on the parlous state of affairs at South Hams Council will probably not come as a surprise to anyone who has had to deal  with the council in recent months.

Where to start? The lengthy wait to speak to a human being – if you’re lucky– on the phone?

The laughable website planning portal, which is so complicated to use that it is almost impossible to submit a  comment on an application without taking a couple of days off work to do so.

This actually is no laughing matter; the planning portal is the only system that stands between the developer and the rest of us; everyone can see the overdevelopment that is going on all over the South Hams, most of it will only add to the coffers of the rich and privileged – very little of it is for the benefit of local working people.

Relaxation of the planning laws will only make this situation more acute – there are big bucks to be made in the South Hams and now, more than ever we need a planning department that is fit for purpose.

Why are the staff at the council demoralised? They have good jobs with pensions and perks that the rest of us can only dream of.

A stint in the private sector with a boss breathing down their necks would give the public servants at Follaton House  a much-needed reality check. They are, for the most part, a complacent and indifferent lot.

Now we hear that the councillors are seeking to set up a private company – using our money, folks – to flog the services of those same demoralised staff to try to increase revenue and profitability. 

What a joke! If they can’t get them to work and make ends meet now, what difference will a private company make?

What do we hear from our elected representatives, the councillors, on this parlous state of affairs?

So far very little. Only Cllr Brazil has exposed what is really going on at Follaton House.

We pay  our many local taxes as dutiful subjects and in return we ought to expect that our elected representatives ensure that our money is spent wisely and for the benefit of the wider community.

A shake up at Follaton House is long overdue. It is imperative, especially in these uncertain post-referendum days that local people insist on accountability from their councillors and the public servants who are supposed to serve them and us. It is our money they are spending.