As the electorate now knows, only days after the people put their trust in Coun Rachel Madden, who campaigned and was elected as an Independent, she has since moved to the Lib Dems.

Maybe Coun Madden should do the morally right thing – resign and campaign as a Lib Dem in a by-election now that she has revealed her true colours.

It is difficult, though, to know what Coun Madden's true colours are because she was once closely linked to the Green Party to the point of attending their meetings.

A letter informed us all that Coun Madden had a close link with the Labour Party and as for her being a supporter of the Lib Dems for many years, this is questionable. A quote from Coun Madden, published on the home page of the 'Socialist Worker' website reads: "I'll be backing the Socialist Alliance candidate at the General Election."

Maybe Coun Madden has crossed the floor now, very early into this term, in the hope that, at the next election, those who voted for her this time will have forgotten this move. But the electorate is far too clever to be fooled.

What a hung council means to the group that I represent is: all the various groups should work together and power-share for the benefit of Ashfield people by having a mixed Cabinet utilising the best talent from all the groups.

This is something that only the Independents and the Conservatives are prepared to do and have shown this to be the case by agreeing to work together under the banner of the Independent and Conservative Alliance.

Our views about having a mixed Cabinet were expressed to Labour and the Lib Dems. But both parties, irrespective of other statements, refused the idea and the Lib Dems have formed a minority Cabinet.

The Independent and Conservative Alliance will hold the decision-makers to account, look to saving taxpayers' money and will always put the people of Ashfield first. We are committed to working and doing the best for our electorate either in or out of Cabinet.

COUN GAIL TURNER (Ind),

Selston,

Ashfield District Council.