LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Much easier being an independent

Worthy though this may be, he might take note that there are other things happening in the world, indeed in Rotherham, beyond his single vision lens that concern us. Yet it was interesting to read that when pointed out that his own attendance has fallen below his exacting requirements for others, he writhes like other politicians on the hook. He explains why his below expectation attendance figures are defendable to him and thus avoid resignation as he said he would do if he did not meet his set level.

How does this paragon of virtue manage the high bar he has set when in a previous life it was not achievable for him? Perhaps that is why Labour still has such a powerful hold on Rotherham because Cllr Bennett-Sylvester did not, as he suggests in his letter, ‘pull his finger out’.

Councillors come from many backgrounds, including some whose strong sense of public duty calls while also doing a ‘proper job’ as we know it. That means having a full time job, necessary to bring up a family and paying taxes as well as fulfilling the role of councillor. No doubt this puts an enormous strain on their family life but they do so out of a strong sense of public duty.

Perhaps Cllr Bennett- Sylvester will enlighten us as to his other life outside of the council, spending as he says hours in surgeries and campaigning around his patch.

I looked at his declared interests on the council website and there is no reference to any other form of income. Interesting! No doubt he will respond, but I hope it will not be a tail of unfortunate circumstance. After all he can find plenty of time for extra council meetings, extensive surgeries and lengthy campaigning.

Cllr Bennett-Sylvester sits as an independent, he states that the number of seats on committees are allocated according to the political balance. This means that the larger the representation the party has within the council the greater the number of seats it can occupy on the various committees. Therefore as an independent he was never going to have much of a workload.

No wonder he is going around begging seats from other parties in order to justify his existence.

Having been a councillor previously he would have been fully aware of this fact and thus perhaps why he decided to stand as an independent. Not much to do and plenty of time to criticise others?

Residents should be aware that in reality Independents can achieve very little beyond raising the concerns of individual residents on individual issues.

They can in some cases work with other councillor on ward matters but not if their only aim is self-promotion.

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