IT IS a very long time since the disappearance of the former Penarth Urban District Council.

Was it 1972 when the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council was formed?

Then, council functions like libraries were run by the then South Glamorgan County Council.

For many years after this big reorganisation, folk in Penarth would grumble how much better things were before the change over and how the newer council based in Barry always gave preference to the needs of Barry over Penarth.

I suspect that these negative sentiments have not vanished.

One can therefore see the practical and psychological needs for community councils and town councils, which have quite limited direct executive powers, but which have quite important consultative functions, as in planning.

In my opinion, problems can arise from the duplication of membership, individual men and women belonging to both the Vale (now unitary) Council and the Penarth Town Council.

I am now coming to the view that, beyond a very limited point – perhaps one individual from each political party on both authorities – this phenomenon is potentially harmful.

Membership of political parties comes into it as well. With dual membership there may come dual loyalties and a potential conflict of loyalties.

It is important the Penarth Town Council should be independent, and be seen to be independent, in representing the interests of residents first.

From some quite brief research on the internet, I have found at least one exchange where two or more town councillors effectively prevented their council from debating the consequences of housing development on the fringes of Penarth – outside our administrative area, but inevitably influenced by an such developments.

I would prefer to avoid personal criticism of individual councillors, some of whom have been helpful to me in various matters, but the evidence points to the danger (or at least the potential danger) of big brother authorities like Barry County Council or even the Wales Assembly government, wishing to control smaller subsidiary bodies who should always have an independent voice.

I do not want to see manipulation in these areas by what I would hesitate to call ‘machine politicians’, engaged in party political manipulation so as not to annoy more senior bodies.

Michael O'Neill

Railway Terrace

Penarth