Firstly, congratulations to everyone who has survived another week of cyclists and scooter riders rocketing along the pavements (anyone would think the pavements are for pedestrians!), and the Formula 1 Test Circuit that is Tesco’s car park, especially at night. I know there have been some close shaves, but we’ve got through another week of adversity and danger and we didn’t let the bar stewards mow us down…
PLUS - most of us have managed to avoid the dog poo too – so that’s a bonus! Mind due, the size of some of the poo piles, you wonder whether people have been taking elephants, or even Tyrannosaurus Rexes, along the pavements to leave messages…
Among spontaneous conversations in town has been the subject of the very minimalist Goole Town Council minutes these days - continued in the latest full council minutes to have been made available (July meeting so 3 months ago). See what you think: https://goole-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Full-Council-25th-July-2024.pdf
Then have a look at, say, an example of Chorleywood Parish Council’s minutes (same type of council as Goole Town Council these days despite the different names): https://www.chorleywood-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/114/2024/09/24.09.10-Full-Council-Draft-Minutes-for-DR-review.pdf
Or how about Ashbourne, which has posted minutes for its September meeting, about a month ago: https://www.ashbournetowncouncil.gov.uk/uploads/27_6706646a3d371262003118.pdf?v=1728472170
The purpose of council minutes is so that the public can easily see what has been discussed at a council meeting. The Information Commissioner has issued guidelines on what should be published by local authorities in terms of agendas and minutes.
The Guidelines say: “authorities should publish the unedited agenda and minutes where possible.” They should “Publish as much as they can, even if it is not possible to publish the unedited documents.” It should be the exception that a member of the public has to visit the council offices to see meeting minutes because they should be available in detailed form online. With Goole Town Council it is now the norm that you have to ask to see minutes.
You can see the information regulator’s guidelines on what local authorities should publish here:
https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1156/minutesandagendas.pdf
Chorleywood and Ashbourne councils seem to be following Information Commissioner guidance. Goole Town Council does not. Do they have something to hide?
The picture with this update was taken today and shows the Leisure Centre ten months after it closed for the rebuilding programme. We were told work was starting this month. With 5 days to go before October ends, do you see any signs work has started? Do you think the Council will screen off these mesh gates soon to stop us seeing?