There is a pyramid of power in Helensburgh and Lomond.

At the bottom, the foundation, are committed volunteers. They are busy on sub-committees, they pack monthly community council meetings. Let's call them Tier 3.

In the middle, the elected councillors, of various political parties. On paper, they are in charge. Tier 2.

At the top are the unelected bureaucrats. Tier 1.

Unelected bureaucrats will impose a 'big box' retailer on the town waterfront. That much seems obvious from the small noises made amidst an otherwise deafening, yet still silent, process.

It was bold for the volunteers of Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) to even submit a bid for the waterfront.

And let's be clear: without HCC being transparent about their plans, the public would know nothing about what's been proposed. Not a thing.

Eight other bids were submitted for this key development site on the town's waterfront, and we have no idea who they are or what they wanted to do.

The volunteers' bid was rejected by the unelected bureaucrats. That same small group at the top of the pyramid cut the bidders down to a final two retailers.

Tier 2 got to hear about the bids, but not even ask questions, except to Tier 1. They couldn't, and still can't, tell the community what they heard.

When HCC asked to meet with the new leader of Argyll and Bute Council - elected, don't forget, by the closest thing possible to a stroke of luck in local government, a cut of the cards - Tier 1 replied for him.

When they asked again, Tier 2 said no, and deferred to Tier 1. It is clear who is in charge.

Why does this matter? You can be in favour of a big retailer taking over the waterfront. You can be in favour of HCC's position. But everyone should look at such a secretive process and be angry.

HCC convener Peter Brown called it "frustrating", but that's the polite word for what has been expressed in these meetings for months.

The last council leader and depute leader never came to the meetings. The new ones haven't either.

And when the winning bid is announced in August, they still won't.

When it is, the process is over. HCC knows that.

Tier 1 says the community can have a say when it goes to a planning application. But that will only be able to influence, maybe, a colour of a wall or shape of an electrical socket.

If the council selects a preferred bidder, and if Tier 2 then dares to make any changes, or even delays a decision, an applicant can go to the Scottish Government for a review. They might even get backing from the Court of Session.

Despite platitudes from any level of elected politician about "listening to the community" there is no power in law for the community to oppose developments.

Tier 1 of the pyramid of Argyll and Bute Council has washed its hands of the pier, of the impact of the waterfront sale to retail, of a popular skate park on the seafront...of almost anything.

Tier 3 are doing the work Tier 1 chooses not to.

They are taking over the pier. They battled to get the skate park back. They fought to give the waterfront to the town.

The Tier 1 of local authorities are only worried about two things: balanced budgets and "reputational damage".

Selling the waterfront will help, briefly, the former. In their view, running a secretive bidding process avoids the latter.

But make no mistake, there is damage. And if you want to make that point to anyone, write to Tier 1.

They won't listen, but they should hear occasionally from the people they rule.