RAIN DANCING TORY

First Scrutiny Committee of the year last evening. A fairly light agenda to get us started, but still well attended. Many there for our early look at the effectiveness of planning enforcement. The new Cabinet Member gave lost of assurances in his asured performance, which we will monitor the progress of over the next few months. This is an issue that clearly taxes the people from town and parish councils.

Also took evidence from the Chamber of Commerce and the Quality Transport Partnership in our enquiry review of Car Parking policy. The Chamber think policy is generally going in the right direction (£50 permit etc); the QTP Chair was a little more concerned about environmental consequences of making car usage easier. What a breath of fresh air he was - a successful local businessman with a keen interest in the bigger picture.

At the end I questioned the credibilty of the latest Forward Plan of future decisions - an important document for effective scrutiny - which pretends that EIGHT major decisions will be dealt with by the 21 March Full Council.

I wrapped up by crediting Cllr Mosdell with securing the lifting of the hosepipe ban after an intensive programme of rain-dancing since Southern water came to our committee meeting back in July. !