There’s a growing bug bear in the UK and more generally the world, as to why the general public are being excluded from being given information by the ‘powers that be’ or just plain ignored when they object to things.
Now we all know that Ventnor isn’t high on the the list of International centres of power, but the latest agenda of the Ventnor Town Council is a little confusing.
It all looked pretty run-of-the-mill, until the agenda for the Winter Gardens Committee meeting comes into sight.
Straight after the discussion of minutes, the next item is the Exclusion of the public. Described as “To resolve that the public be excluded whilst the undermentioned matters are considered in view of the private and confidential nature of the information to be given.”
The undermentioned matters aren’t the current position of UK spies along the Baltic coast or indeed the ever-so secret plan to remove all Overners from the Island.
The undermentioned matters are in fact Report of the chairman regarding activities and events; Bar and catering concession; and report of financial officer.
Seems a little confusing quite why the public shouldn’t be able to hear about these things.
I’m sure we’d all be interested in hearing Maureen Cawley — the Chair of the Winter Garden — give all of the details.
Let’s hope those sitting on the committee do the right thing, vote No to this and let the public hear about, what is after all, the public’s Winter Gardens.
