Congratulations to Valerie Paynter and her group of Hove residents (Letters, August 9) on the research they have done into the affairs of Brighton and Hove City Council.

The change from a Labour council to one with no overall control is hardly reflected in the share of the top jobs.

It may be that councillors from other parties are heading up some of the sub committees.

If so, they are keeping a very low profile.

The control freaks who serve on the so-called "elite committees" still seem to be in charge, except when it comes to votes of the full council, which they prefer to avoid in case the vote goes against them.

Two recent events illustrate the lack of involvement of our elected representatives.

At the debate on chief executive David Panter's salary increase (a Trojan horse if ever I saw one) the public were excluded and the vote was held in secret.

How can this be justified?

The Gehry skyscrapers are another example. A small sub committee is ushering this unpopular project through the council before a proper debate and vote to decide whether they are wanted in the first place. Is this democracy?

It is very important that everyone in the council is aware of the new reality - that Labour is no longer in overall control and that power is, more than ever, vested in the votes of the full council.

We should no longer tolerate a situation where small but powerful cliques can railroad through their own pet projects, often with little public support.

The Gehry towers will act as a good test case.

I believe The Argus can strike a real blow for democracy by publishing a list of how councillors voted after all contentious debates.

In this way, the electorate could decide who might be worthy of their support at subsequent elections.

-Alan Nunn, Hove