AMONG the leaflets in the browsing foyer of Morecambe Town Hall I found a document for public perusal entitled "Involving the Public - Promoting Better Practice," recently published by the Local Government Management Board. Excited by a section 'Participation in Council procedures,' I was pleased to notice a nearby list of Committee Meetings I might attend.

Among these was a meeting of the Unique Response Sub-Committee. Intrigued by this title, I made my way out to the extremities of White Lund at 5pm last Tuesday - where the meeting was to be held in the offices of the City Highways Depot.

What disappointment! After the opening of the meeting - even before tea was served - I was told to leave. Members of all political parties supported the chairman's announcement. Apparently matters that so much affect our council taxes are too sensitive for us to know about until we get the bill.

Would any councillor like to clarify why they ignore the recommendations of the Local Government Management Board? If they all want to be so secretive, are any of them worth voting for in May?

M R Jackson

Hest Bank

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.