Your anonymous cheerleader for West Dorset Dis-trict Council reminds us (Echo, May 18) that West Dor-set residents have an opportunity every four years “to vote in councillors to represent them and to make decisions on the various needs and requirements of the district”, concluding, “democracy I believe this is called.”

No doubt reasons of space prevented your correspondent from explaining that, under the “cabinet” system currently espoused by WDDC’s ruling party, a mere seven out of the 48 elected councillors make just about every decision of any real significance. Those chosen few – all from the same party – then pass their decisions to the rest as faits accomplis, for rubber-stamping. Oligarchy, I believe this is called.

Most councillors will have entered local politics with a genuine wish to make a difference. Sadly, under the cabinet system, they discover that “the majority are functioning in the dark” and often feel they are “run by a band of brothers who take no notice of 41 of us”. Some have even felt “ashamed to be a councillor”.

Come along to any council meeting – particularly those of the full council – and see for yourself just how much opportunity there is to debate anything.

See for yourself the handful of councillors who try, at least, to raise matters for discussion.

And see for yourself all those who sit in submissive silence with apparently nothing to contribute, caught in a party whip machine and simply raising their hands obediently whenever called upon.

WDDC’s cabinet system is not what I call democracy. Time, surely, to end this disastrous experiment in local misgovernment.

Chris Holmes, Dorchester