Tonight was my first council meeting as a member of the public for over four years. I noticed 2 main things that struck me. Firstly the seats in the Public Gallery are really uncomfortable, it explains why the gallery empties quickly after the public question time is over.
Secondly the whole process seemed to be a complete exercise in futility, tonight's meeting was primarily to elect a new mayor and decide the new positions on the council committees and outside bodies. It was simply a secession of votes to decide if the Representatives should be Tory or Labour, every single vote was carried 24 to 10 in the Conservatives favour, yet still each position was voted on, perhaps a better way to have settled it would have been to each submit the answers agreed at group and then at 7:30 count how many from each side are there and that side wins. Could all be out by 7:45.
Anyway, the meeting was over quite quickly and we went to the reception afterwards which was good to catch up again with some people I had not seen for quite a while.
My final comment is that I would like to say congratulations to the new mayor and mayoress Lee & Ali Burke who I am sure will be a real asset to the roles.
