A “rainbow coalition” of Lib Dem, Labour and Green councillors overruling the Conservative minority administration’s master plan for the future of Brighton is to be welcomed (The Argus, December 10).

During the past 30 years, local government has seen its authority increasingly undermined by Westminster. Centralisation came to its height when the Local Government Act was passed in 2000, which allowed the creation of the “cabinet system” of local government, which Brighton and Hove City Council adopted.

This system is the least democratic of all options as there is no direct election to positions of executive power. The party who seeks to govern merely appoints the cabinet members “in house”.

Since this system arrived in Brighton the whole climate of decision-making has changed. Decisions on numerous policies are made in a back room.

Despite the Conservative administration not winning a controlling majority, it has sought to run it as if it does.

In the national Conservative policy paper on local government, “Control Shift”, the party bemoans the lack of democracy and trust at local level. It also attacks the lack of consultation with residents. The approach taken by the local Conservative administration over the future plan for our city flies in the face of the spirit of its own party policy.

With trust in our nation’s politics at a low, open and honest decision-making processes are key to winning back at least some of the trust that has been lost in local government. The inclusion of the opposition parties in deciding our city’s future is crucial to making this process fairer. I hope this moment sets a precedent, not for endless defeats but for better decision-making. This will create a more favourable future for our city.

Mark Collins
Hangleton Close, Hove