|
|
|
| Council Meeting Report17th Feb 2004 The councillor who briefed a journalist that HCTC was a "spent force" this afternoon had his dreams shattered well by this evening. Although this was just a cabinet meeting, health and safety chiefs at the civic centre were forced to severely curtail entry to the chamber yet again. Just half of the supporters filled both committee rooms to capacity and the other half were forced to listen to proceedings elsewhere on an audio link. Earlier cabinet members had to enter the building through a large crowd of banner waving protestors, eager to ensure that there could be no doubt what residents expected of them. A full meeting report should be available tomorrow, but briefly the Conservative group presented a budget which would have require a Harrow rate rise of 2.48% (before the Mayor's increase is added). This was based on Labour's own figures, and was difficult to argue against. Unfortunately Labour controls the council, but this alternative budget vindicates HCTC's position - spend our money properly and there's no need to raise taxes more than inflation. HCTC was prevented from taking photographs or recording anything in the meeting by a specific ruling on the day by the borough solicitor, which is a great pity as you can't see the discomfort in the faces of the ruling cabinet, nor hear them casting around for excuses to justify their position. We await with interest an explanation as to why this meeting, open to the public, is not considered a public place and why photographs and recordings of councillors squirming is not in the public interest.
|
