IT appears to me that the consultation being offered by Durham County Council in relation to the possible closure of care homes for the elderly will be meaningless unless it places into the public domain certain financial information.

First of all, the public should be presented with details of the past maintenance expenditure on all of the council-owned homes. This would enable people to be assured that certain homes have not been starved of funds.

Secondly, the council should release details of the expenditure it claims will be required to bring the threatened homes up to required standards.

The above information could, of course, be secured by way of Freedom of Information requests. Given that there is a time limit to consultation would it not be reasonable to ask that this information is made publicly available?

Finally, could I suggest that a very good test of public opinion on this matter could be achieved by way of well-organised “parish polls” paid for out of elected members’ £25,000 annual locality allowance.

This approach offers a good mix of meaningful consultation and local democracy.

Councillor Brian Gibson, Independent, Ferryhill Town Council.