I was very sad to read your article on the likely demise of election night counts (‘Out for the count: is the end of late-night elections?’, News Analysis, March 19–25).
We have had months of public sniping at ‘excessive’ pay deals for members of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers.
Now along comes a chance for them to show local government at its best by quietly and professionally organising a quick and efficient count in the full glare of publicity on election night.
But what do they do? Completely blow the chance by putting it in their ‘too difficult’ baskets until the next day.
Such opportunities are too rare to be spurned.
Michael Keene
Winchester
