SINCE the refurbishment of the Coleford Council building it has been as difficult for the public to gain entrance to meetings as to the proverbial Fort Knox.
At the latest Corporate Scrutiny meeting no caretaker was on duty and I had to attract the attention of cleaners mopping the floor to let me in. Some time later a friend arrived for the meeting after standing outside in the rain for 15 minutes as there was no-one in the foyer to open the door and no notice that a meeting was scheduled. She received an apology from the committee chairman but at the Cabinet meeting last Thursday a similar situation prevailed and staff available were unaware that a meeting was scheduled. However, at least the plastic stacking chairs provided for the Corporate Scrutiny meeting had been replaced with the more usual (and more comfortable) upholstered ones.
At Corporate Scrutiny I submitted a question regarding closer investigation of matters such as the loan to the Community Interest Company. At a previous meeting chairman Philip Burford had questioned the chairman of that company closely and in a somewhat hostile manner, but in his answer to me his position appeared to have changed completely. Has someone leaned on him, and if so, who? I understand, from the experience of someone else who has requested the information, that the accounts of this company are very difficult to come by.
Much discussion followed on a new system of shared services under which the six Gloucestershire district councils and one in Oxfordshire would act together to save money for all of them. Former Leader Marion Winship, present at the meeting as an observer, told members that she had known nothing of this while she was Leader, although it was obvious that negotiations had been taking place between officers of the seven councils. So who did know, and why was it kept secret from the then Leader? We need to be told who is actually in charge at the council. Is it the officers, or a small cabal of elected members? It certainly does not appear to be full council, which should be sovereign.
Last week's Cabinet meeting was the first opportunity for the public to interrogate Cabinet members and there were four questions. Two were on tourism, one on staffing levels and their remuneration and I asked why so much business is being labelled exempt and therefore cannot be examined by members of the public. I was told that it is only exempt when absolutely necessary and never for the convenience of the council. In an answer to my supplementary question the new Leader, Cllr Peter Amos, responded that he makes the decisions on what is to be exempt. As he has promised transparent government, removing all but the most essential items from the exempt agenda is his opportunity to honour this promise and demonstrate that he is a man of integrity who keeps his word.
Daphne Pearson (Dr), Tinman's Green, Redbrook.