Council competence is a political issue

Some businesses have paid levies, taxes and rates for more than 40 years.

Businesses in the Umina CBD were paying a levy of sorts for a night-time security service.

It is gone now because of the lack of patronage by businesses that are already marginalised.

This "new" economic strategy was the initiative of Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, funded by State and Federal Government, and the Chamber.

Money paid through the levy would employ a "place manager" to implement the strategy and fund business promotion and development, security and street improvements.

Someone needs to be reminded what we ratepayers already pay our rates for here on the Peninsula.

After all, those who are in management at the Gosford Council are paid well enough to do these things already.

The fact is obvious that Gosford Council is not competent to do what is expected of it.

The strategy is already owned by the whole community: that is what we pay rates for, the good government of the people.

Mr Ian's Radford's assertion, "I would not like it to become a political football in the lead-up to the March State Election", must have been a joke.

The inability of the Gosford Council to provide the "good government of the people" is a political issue.

Edward James, Umina