Jacob Williams https://jacobwilliams.com

Next Thursday’s full council meeting looks to be a jam-packed affair. With 38 items of business the agenda paper is the thickest I’ve known.

It has been 13 weeks since the last meeting, after all, and the bill includes an accumulation of questions submitted by members, numerous reports to consider, and a few notices of motions.

I don’t anticipate that this meeting will peter out toward the end either, because item 37 of 38 a motion of no confidence has been tabled in the deputy leader and cabinet member for education and the Welsh language, Cllr. Huw George.

As a requirement of the Local Government Measure, all councillors were recently invited to complete a 2-page tick box survey gauging opinions on the timings of full council meetings and committees.

As I was thumbing through the agenda for Thursday’s meeting I noticed that the report on this recent survey is coming back to council for consideration as item number 9.

It shows that 46 of the 60 members returned their surveys and includes a breakdown of the results. Quite a few of those – 35 – also opted to add additional feedback, and the report includes an anonymous summary of the comments received.

Given the length of the agenda, this meeting could last well in to the afternoon. If this is the case, the general tone of the survey feedback suggests that the council chamber will be abuzz with snoring!

“I am not agreeable to meetings with a start time of 6.00 pm. I prefer meetings to start as soon as possible.”

“I believe that morning sessions will produce best results. Late afternoon possibly tired.”

“Lose the Morning; Lose the Day.”

“10.00 am meetings are best when Councillors are fresh and more alert at the start of the day.”

And my favourite:

“People should be at their sharpest in the morning, particularly the older Members.”

I haven’t worked out who the comedian is yet, but I do have my suspicions!