The news item in your paper of November 11 headed ‘Party’s leader under fire for misconduct’ quoted their leader, Cllr Mark Howell as saying that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had refused to seek out potential developers for key town centre sites.

Having served for 16 years on Poole Borough Council it was always made clear to me that I should not have any personal contact with any developer that was involved, or likely to be involved with any development within the Borough.

Any likely contract or development that involved Council owned land was always dealt with through a tender process, overseen by Council Officers.

Any other development went through a rigorous planning process where members of the planning committee dealt with planning details and facts. At no point did elected councillors get involved with the developers.

To actively seek out potential developers would lay any elected member open to charges of corruption. I hope that Cllr Howell heeds this sensible guidance when he “speaks directly to developers”.

Chris Bulteel,

Mount Road, Poole