From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
As the Editor of the Crier always maintains "We have our means". So,
even though a reporter did not attend the meeting, we still provide our readers
with an accurate report, albeit short because copy date was one day before the
meeting.
Following last month's report, at the top of everyone's minds must be The Hurdle Hall Farm Affair. Has there been some hanky panky? Are we faced with yet another CCC scandal? Are there villains at work?
You may remember that Mrs Hazel Williams was angry and dismayed when she was first told about the sale, and promised to investigate. In a written statement presented to The Crier Mrs Williams tells us:-
"The sale of Hurdle Hall Farm is being carried out under the Environmental Policy of the County Council, which allows those with an environmental interest in the area to have priority (land has been sold to the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust under the same policy). There is a similar policy in place for Parish Councils. It was valued by the District Valuer and Cheffins independently and the higher valuation used. The land (100 acres) has no farmhouse attached to it and the sale is in line with the disposal of smaller, uneconomical, pockets of land by the council."
Geoffrey Woollard could hardly contain his excitement when he announced that the matter had already reached Westminster - though not through him.
Nothing more of the same note was discussed, so, with spare space available, I again repeat my request to know why any item not on the agenda cannot be discussed and voted on. It appears ridiculous that there is no slot for any other business. Instead if anyone wishes to raise a new issue it can only be put into "Items for the Next Agenda"and discussed in four weeks time. Of course like all stupid laws it is there to be broken if possible. Come Mrs Williams, please Mrs Williams, do please explain.