A COUNCIL run residents' meeting was likened to a scene from the Vicar of Dibley and branded “a complete farce” by the Liberal democrat candidate for the Hendon parliamentary seat.

Around 40 people turned up to the Hendon Residents' Forum, a chance for the public to quiz councillors and officers and air their views on current plans, at the Sangam Centre in Burnt Oak last night.

However, there were constant interruptions while members of the public were speaking, ran more than 30 minutes late and was subjected to a backdrop of loud karaoke from a neighbouring room.

At the end of the meeting Matthew Harris stood up and said: “This meeting has been a complete farce. The format of this meeting has been like something out of the parish council of the Vicar of Dibley.

“I used to go for work reasons to ones run by Westminster Council where they broke up into groups to talk about things then came back to present their findings at the end.

“Here we have a panel behind a table with everyone forced to plough through the agenda while people shout over each other. This is not a reflection on members of the public who are here, but the format as a whole.”

However, the chairman Councillor Brian Gordon (Con/Hale), replied: “Meetings are only as good as the people who attend. We can only respond to what the public wants.

“These give people the chance to air their views and are welcome to anyone who wants to come.”