David Farnsworth’s letter in last week’s Beacon (Time public treated with honesty, Beacon 26th June) struck a chord with me. As town councillors, we too are in the dark about the plans for Agincourt Square. Where are the plans for our town, the town we are meant to represent, and when may we look at them? All we have is the reply from the Chair that he will ‘respond in due course’ to Mr Farnsworth’s questions during public participation at Full Council regarding the particulars of the scheme - a question then picked up and repeated by a councillor also hoping for answers, and receiving the same gnomic reply.

What ‘in due course’ means is unclear: we have not yet had an answer. I am beginning to see one thing with ever greater clarity, however: if people are allowed to stand for election as both town and county councillors at the same time, the result is a town council that is run by county councillors. This view riles our dual member councillors, understandably, but it is not just my view. I look forward to the day that the recommendation of the Independent Review Panel of Town and Community Councils in Wales (2018) is acted upon: “we recommend against having dual members […] and that County councillors should regularly attend Community and Town Councils within their wards (in ex-officio capacity) to ensure engagement.” Roll on that day!

Cllr Rachel Jupp (Monmouth Town Council)