AFTER the "whistle-blowing" incident recently reported in the press, Bolton Council's leader, Cllr Barbara Ronson, has announced the council's answer to the problem.

"An internal review was being held by senior council officers to prevent a repeat of the hearing" and "we will be looking at the District Auditor's recommendations, along with any comments made by the tribunal chairman", she has said.

Surely we are entitled to something more than an internal review of council procedures? The tribunal's remit is to deal with the individual's claims.

During this tribunal there were suggestions of witch hunts, intimidation of witnesses and some scathing attacks on the conduct of the most senior officers in the council.

Who will dare blow the whistle in future?

The "whistle blower's charter and the council's own rules are already more than adequate to prevent this type of hearing.

The honest majority of rank and file employees of the council deserve better.

The ratepayers, as well as councillors, deserve to know the whole truth, and those senior officers accused of wrongdoing deserve the opportunity to be vindicated of any false accusations.

Cllr Ronson says: "It is vital that the public perceive the council to be operating above board" and offers an internal review into the conduct of their own members!

Please, for the sake of democracy, is it too much to expect a complete, independent and open investigation?

(Name and address supplied)