Orwellian stuff

I just tried to get in to watch Carmarthenshire County Councillors at work but was refused entry by Mr. Colin Davies "Democratic Services Manager" who could cite no rule from the Council's constitution or standing orders.

The reason that I was refused entry was because I would not sign an undertaking "not record or film any meetings of the Council or its committees from the public gallery of the Council Chamber at County Hall, Carmarthen until and unless the policy relating to this is reviewed by the Council." The address at the top of the bit of paper states that it is "To: Chief Executive." One wonders about the story of the tail wagging the dog ;-)

I asked for my Councillor to come and explain why this was, as I had asked him on the 14th Sept to find out. He came very quickly and said he had asked for clarification but that legal services had not got back to him and that the meeting was about to start and he couldn't stay. I will copy the email, of which I sent copies to Simon Hart MP, Angela Burns AM and Carl Sargeant AM, at the bottom of the page. I redacted my email address but left Daff's because it is published on the county council website

I was very happy to meet up with Caebrwyn and Y Cneifiwr at last, who both did sign and go in. I also met Chris Segar of The Ferret being ignored by the council too!

Subject: turned away from county council meeting
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:13:18 +0100

From: Dick Bain <dick@towy71.blanketyblank.com>
To: Cllr D B Davies <DBDavies@carmarthenshire.gov.uk>


Daff

This morning I tried to get to see my county council in action but was
refused entry until I had signed some piece of paper which I refused
to do. I asked under what rule they were restricting my access to the
public gallery but they could not or would not answer; however they
said someone would come down and explain to me why I had to sign this
undertaking.

Chris Burns identified himself as deputy chief executive, he told me
that council rules dictated that I sign the form but he could not or
would not specify which rule, under the constitution or standing
orders, restricted access to the public gallery.

Can you clarify under what rules I was turned away?

thanks

Dick Bain

The joys of IRC

I'm normally logged in to an IRC channel 24/7 and there is very little traffic but there are the occasional gems

mawi; evening

towy71; shhshhh don't wake the bears

mawi; Wah? bears?

* mawi hides

towy71; it's worse when they get close, bad breath ;-)

mawi; and itchy fur

towy71; oops how did you know that? are you a bear?

mawi; why, yes, yes I am

mawit; Grrr

* towy71 hides

no sightings of #pambot today

So far today there has been no activity from Councillor Pam Palmer, I'm not the only one to miss her ;-)

http://madaxeman.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/the-strange-case-of-the-pambot/

http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/2011/10/local-democracy-week-carmarthenshire.html

http://cneifiwr-emlyn.blogspot.com/2011/10/council-of-despair-part-ii.html

Thanks for the thorough reports, shame that the minutes might be so open!

#pambot 2, and sundry other things

Pam Palmer had a very busy day tweeting as part of Carmarthenshire's democracy week, apart from voting for a change to the constitution that means one has to find 7 councillors to propose a debate. She answered no questions again, quelle surprise!

One wonders what will have to happen to overthrow this tinpot regime??

PamPalmerCCC Wedi bod mewn cyfarfodydd trwy'r dydd. Cyfarfod diddorol o’r Gyngor Sir y bore yma.

PamPalmerCCC Been in meetings all day. Quite an interesting meeting of County Council this morning.

It was also interesting how the council seem to be late and incomplete with answers to FIO requests. Tickets for the match anyone, no not you plebs :P

http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/

The Council of Despair Part I

http://cneifiwr-emlyn.blogspot.com/2011/10/council-of-despair-part-i.html

Pambot on twitter

We plebs on Twitter were graced by a visit from Councillor Pam Palmer, Several people asked her questions but she didn't deign to reply to any of them; all her alleged tweets are listed below in full and they seem more like announcements than dialogue.

Caebrwyn asked: about filming meetings and entry restrictions to public gallery - and about changes to CCC constitution and publishing spending details, I await her replies

Towy71 asked I wonder if you can tell me which rule excludes members of public from "public meetings" and did you vote for that?

mjmilan asked: How does Chief Exec get to decide that no confidence vote in the leader won't be considered? Is this democratic? Also, how much discretion does Chief Exec have to make up and enforce rules that aren't in the standing orders?

"PamPalmerCCC Cefais fy mhlesio’n fawr iawn gyda safon y gofal a gynigir i gleifion yn Ysbyty Dyffryn Aman - hon oedd fy ymweliad cyntaf a’r ysbyty.

PamPalmerCCC I was really impressed with the level of care offered to patients at Amman Valley Hospital - this was my first visit.

PamPalmerCCC Oeddech chi'n gwybod – y plentyn cyntaf i gael ei geni o dan y GIG oedd Aneira Rees yn Ysbyty Dyffryn Aman ar 5 Gorffennaf 1948 am 12:01am

PamPalmerCCC Did you know that the first person to be born under the NHS was Aneira Rees at Amman Valley Hospital on July 5th 1948 at 12:01 am.

PamPalmerCCC Bron a llwgu. Mynd i lawr i'r bwyty yn Neuadd y Sir am frechdan gyflym cyn teithio i Ysbyty Dyffryn Aman ar gyfer cyfarfod.

5 hours ago

PamPalmerCCC Starving. Going down to the restaurant in County Hall for a sandwich efore travelling to Amman Valley Hospital for a meeting.

PamPalmerCCC Jyst wedi dod nôl o gyfarfod am effeithlonrwydd ynni. Rydym yn edrych ar bob math o ddewisiadau ar gyfer arbed ynni ar draws y cyngor.

6 hours ago

PamPalmerCCC Just come back from as meeting about energy efficiency. We're looking at all sorts of options for saving energy throughout the council.

PamPalmerCCC Wedi treulio peth amser bore ‘ma yn mynd drwy'r papurau ar gyfer cyfarfod y Cyngor Sir yfory. Dylai fod yn gyfarfod diddorol!

PamPalmerCCC Spent some time this morning going through the papers for tomorrow's meeting of County Council. It should be an interesting meeting!

PamPalmerCCC Cymru’n rhagorol ar y penwythnos. Er fy mod yn dod o Loegr rwy'n falch o fy nghenedl fabwysiedig. Gall y Saeson ddysgu gwersi wrth y Cymry.

PamPalmerCCC Wales impressive on weekend. Though English by birth I’m proud of my adopted nation. English team could learn lessons from Welsh squad.

PamPalmerCCC Wedi bod yn ymweld â dynes o’r ardal yn ystod yr awr ginio. Problem anodd ei datrys, ond byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau.

PamPalmerCCC Visited constituent lunch time - lovely lady. Difficult problem to resolve though.

PamPalmerCCC Wedi bod mewn cyfarfod trwy'r bore, delio gyda chydraddoldeb a materion yn ymwneud a'r iaith Gymraeg.

PamPalmerCCC Been in a meeting all morning, equalities and Welsh language issues."

Away

I'm going away for a little bit, our younger son is getting married so taking the opportunity to have a little jaunt, will post more on my little rotten borough when I get back :D

Open governance

This morning I tried to get to see my county council in action but was refused entry until I had signed some piece of paper which I refused to do. I asked under what rule they were restricting my access to the public gallery but they could not or would not answer; however they said someone would come down and explain to me why I had to sign this undertaking.

Chris Burns identified himself as deputy chief executive, he told me that council rules dictated that I sign the form but he could not or would not specify which rule, under the constitution or standing orders, restricted access to the public gallery.

It is the first time I have ever been turned away from a council meeting and I have to say that I am not best pleased. I shall be writing to my MP, AM and I will be talking to my local councillor.