SECRECY was ‘out of order’ with the committee system under which councils used to conduct their business.

It appears most amazing that important contracts, transfer of monies etc have been entered into under the cloak of secrecy by the chosen few (‘Council ran the risk of illegal payments’, Daily Echo September 27), without the knowledge of a panel or scrutiny committee etc.

I’m sure that the majority of council tax payers will be irate that their council representatives were not allowed this vital knowledge of the commitment of their monies, vital decisions being made behind their backs.

Years before, the change was made to dispense with committees made up of around 12/15 members who were in full control and under which true democratic procedure was practised.

It is regrettable that this method of local government was abolished and so-called scrutiny panels made up of a much lesser number of members have taken their place with little or no authority.

It is hoped that the future will bring a new council made up by a majority of democratically-minded members and who will resort back to the previous committee system, and so ensure all financial decisions will be considered by numbers and not the privileged few, as is the present position and which brought about the recent exposure of costly decisions being entered into in secrecy.

P G WHITELEGG, Romney Road, Redhill Park, Bournemouth