Is that a stupid question?

What a poor opinion Cllr Cornelius must have of his colleagues and of residents. Why would councillors look stupid for asking questions – seeking information – about issues and proposals on which later they have to make recommendations or vote? Why would the public think of councillors as stupid for doing such a vital part of their job? Is Cllr Cornelius really afraid that councillors will be seen to not ask questions or to not participate in any way, as has been the case at committee meetings all too often? Is he worried that residents will oppose plans they learn about and have time to impress their views on their own councillors, who, after all, are meant to represent them?

Referring to the working groups, Cllr Cornelius also said ‘… people can speak much more frankly about these things out of the public eye’. Why should that be so? What would they be trying to hide? That they agreed with a member of a different party? That they opposed a policy in private but supported it in public, or vice versa? We re more likely to be able to trust our representatives if we don’t think they are trying to deceive us.

I have learned that because the Constitution does not apply to working groups, it is only ‘recommended’ that they meet in private and that they are not advertised. You might not be interested in going to any of these meetings, but if you agree that in a true democracy our councillors should not be doing anything in secret that affects us – and those cuts will affect all of us –perhaps you could e-mail your councillor to say these meetings should be advertised and open to the public.

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