The above words are contained in a open letter received by all councillors at the weekend. The open letter from the Saffron Walden-based campaign group WeAreResidents can be read here.

Sadly, what WAR has written is a fair but alarming assessment of planning at Uttlesford District Council in 2014.

Accountability at UDC is weak. It stems in part from a political leadership that has avoided accountability over long-term planning – the Local Plan – chiefly by avoiding politically awkward decisions and hiding behind council officials when they eventually make them. “This plan is not ours; it’s a proposal from our officers”, is the line used by cabinet members on more than one occasion. Officers have been left to fill the vacuum.

Mistakes are made. They are covered up. Officers start to run the council instead of the elected members. There is no accountability because everyone who should be in charge passes the buck.

Corruption is not only about people lining their pockets from brown envelopes. When democracy is diminished to the extent that the public – and many elected councillors – cannot tell who is responsible for what, then accountability becomes weak and democracy has indeed been corrupted.

Press coverage today in: Herts & Essex Observer ,  Saffron Walden Weekly News .and Saffron Walden Reporter.