By Richard Evans, reporter
Oh, the joy of covering council. Recently I enjoyed the monthly instalment of Conwy's planning committee meeting - always an interesting affair, as random as you like.
Cllr John Pitt's interjections are as bewildering as anything you could imagine. The councillor once tried to justify granting an application for floodlights at Colwyn Bay Rugby Club by arguing that the lights would help owls hunt at night.
Meanwhile, other members of the committee proceed to consider decisions, often vital to the area's environmental and economic future, while e-mailing on their council-funded laptops. Others prefer to hand round hard-boiled mints.
The mints never seem to reach Cllr Brian Cossey, but if they did, by the look which usually graces his face by 3pm, you'd be forgiven for thinking he would rather reach for cyanide. A common theme of his frustration is when the councillors break policy "on a whim" despite the advice given by professionally qualified officers, simply because the applicant "seems like a nice person". At the last meeting Cllr Cossey resorted to physically banging his head on the desk in despair.
Other councillors who opted to attend the meeting interrupted speakers while chatting, chuckling and telling jokes - infuriating when half the chamber hasn't turned their microphones on and you, as a reporter, are charged with the task of trying to ensure you quote everybody accurately.
But I'll save my last word for acting planning chairman Gwilym Richards, who at the end of the planning meeting, before an item exempt from the public and press was discussed, attempted to hurry my exit. After sitting in on what seemed like an eternity of garbled chaos, I had a notepad, two pens, a sheet with photographs and names of councillors, and the planning meeting agenda - and as it's October, a jumper on the back of my chair. I hurriedly put my things back in my bag, put on my jumper to leave as quickly and as quietly as possible.
However, it seems the few seconds this took was far too long for Cllr Richards, who for the very first time in two hours decided to attempt to restore order to Bodlondeb - "Sir, could you kindly get dressed outside?" he moaned. "Some of us have homes to go to."
I suggest I'm not the only one who should get my coat....
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Nigel Roberts wrote...
As some one who has first hand knowledge of the Planning Committee,I can only agree with you.
They seem to take no notice of public opinion and go their own merry way.
The planning policy they endlessy refer to dates back to 1982 for Gods sake!
Long before the retail parks, Conwy was bypassed etc,what planet do these people live on?
One even cost us about 6 thousand pounds in travel expenses, My guess is that she is no longer able to drive herself! Yet she sits on the planning committee!
Posted by: Nigel Roberts | October 28, 2007 7:23 AM