DEAR residents, please download the Somerset County Council and the Taunton Deane Borough Council calendar of meetings from their websites and start attending their meetings if you feel that the first duty of Government (nationally and locally) is to keep their staff and all of us citizens safe.

We depend on the courage, skill and dedication of our front-line emergency services.

Also, write to Ms Pow MP if you’re happy she voted against bringing the public sector pay cap to an end and voting for the DUP £1bn magic money tree.

Write to Gideon Amos if you’re not happy.

In my honest opinion, renewed budget priorities and negotiations with Treasury are needed by SCC and TDBC:
1. SCC 2017/18 revenue budget consultation “Significant numbers (again over 40 per cent) would not be willing to see a reduction in expenditure on support for elderly persons unable to live without assistance, support for vulnerable groups.
So how high is SCC’s responsibility for adults with learning difficulties? 
2. Losing our local fire brigade’s only rescue vehicle is an unacceptable choice to be on a budget-cut decision list.
3. Avon and Somerset Police chief constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner have jointly warned the Home Secretary that £60 million of cuts, with another £20 million to come, means that policing is being pushed to its limit and that the kind of policing expected by the public is not sustainable long term.

An unfunded manifesto, knee-jerk policy and not having the backbone to speak budget-cut-truth to Treasury-power are all weak and unstable.

Dear residents, kindly make political change your continual campaign.

PHIL COOKSON
Wiveliscombe