| Topic: | Chiswick Area Forum NEXT TUESDAY inc. 32-storey tower presentation | |
| Posted by: | Andy Murray | |
| Date/Time: | 14/01/16 11:22:00 |
| Yes, it usually is. I have sympathy for Councillors having to prepare for a meeting that nominally ends at 10pm, but often goes longer - usually justifiably, in my opinion. Councillors usually do want to have their say on most subjects and be able to cross-examine those presenting, which takes time. If the public attended more regularly, in greater numbers, there would be an argument for more than 6 meetings per year, but the meetings cost money from the Council budget and long-suffering Officers are required to attend, arrange the PA, take notes, give advice and write up the Minutes - mostly in antisocial hours. It tends to be representatives of the West Chiswick & Gunnersbury Society and myself who stay for the whole thing, plus other regular attendees, including Peter Eversden of the Bedford Park Society, Anna Jackson from the Thornton-Mayfield Residents Association, Karen Liebreich of the Chiswick High Road Action Group, and the Mayorcas siblings. (Apologies to others I may have overlooked). Sadly, local stars of the magnitude of David Tennant (at the November meeting) rarely appear, but there's always a chance. If you want to know what the Council plans to do, and how your local Councillors feel about it, this is the place to be - only 6 times a year, for 2 1/2 hours a time. By the time the new lights / tarmac/ wheelie bins / parking restrictions / new buildings / waste collection / Christmas lights hit your street, it's way too late to influence the outcome - or comment. See you there! |