Town Clerk explains big issues ‘secrecy’
Yesterday, MyWelshpool highlighted that discussions surrounding the future of the Town Hall, Day Centre, Berriew Street Toilets and Motte and Bailey would be held in ‘confidential session’ at the Town Council’s Property and Service Committee meeting, meaning press and public are excluded.
It follows similar restrictions imposed concerning other projects that have also gone behind closed doors in recent years, with the outcomes then stunning council tax payers.
But Richard Williams has been quick to clarify the position and said that while the meetings themselves may be confidential, the minutes are not and will be available the day after. However, experience tells us that these minutes lack any real depth of who said what and often consist of just a light paragraph along the lines of: ‘An update was provided by…’.
When we have asked for more details in the past, we were then told it was in confidential session and it would be discussed again at full council… and then we find it is again in confidential session!
Anyway, here is what Mr Williams has explained:
“The decision to enter private session is based on items which are either:
- Commercially sensitive
- Legal proceedings and agreements at the negotiation stage
- Data protection.
“The item on Berriew St is commercially sensitive, Day Centre is legal proceedings and both Motte and Bailey and Town Hall are proposals from local businessmen, so are commercially sensitive, legal negotiations and data protection (where redaction would mean you’d still be able to identify who they are).
“We are trying to keep business in private to the absolute minimum, however sometimes things have to be heard in private so future proceedings are not prejudiced.
“The minutes are not confidential and will be published the day after the meeting, so you’ll be able to see any decisions made there.”
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