Good deal but at what price for city?

Feb 29 2008 by David James, South Wales Echo

CITY councillors have thrashed out a good deal for ratepayers but the way it was achieved does little for our faith in our elected representatives.

It took six hours, repeated adjournments and several helpings of leftover curry for a chaotic meeting at City Hall last night to agree a 3.5 per cent hike in council tax bills.

That rise means Cardiff’s citizens will be better off next year than most council taxpayers in Britain.

Yet the squabbling between the four parties that delayed its agreement was a reminder of how ill-equipped the council has been for the last four years where no party has had an overall majority.

If, as appears possible, no party again wins a majority in May, councillors must devise a more effective system of governing which will allow the executive to be more decisive.