Observations on the APC Meeting 04th March 2024

Observations on Audlem Parish Council Meeting, 4th March 2024 (7 until 8.20pm)

This month's meeting took place in a crowded Methodist room with more than twenty members of the public, village traders and the Music Festival committee out in force to hear the outcome of item23/174 on the agenda: To discuss and approve booking of Audlem Music Festival. The atmosphere was febrile.

The meeting commenced with the standard invitation from the chairman for members of the public (MOP) to air any concerns. Several hands went up with various issues raised concerning the festivals viability and traders great concern regarding potential loss of income with reference to Item 23/174 Also the importance of the Turnpike field to the wider community particularly in view of the public consultation that had taken place last May with a massive majority in favour of Fields in Trust to protect against development. A particularly eloquent contribution was made by Mrs Christine Johnson who informed us that she had regularly attended the PC meetings over the last year and that at every meeting she had noticed a palpable air of dissention with a strong element of negativity taking place that worked against the best interests of the community that the council was meant to be serving. She emphasised the need for a council that worked together to achieve progress for the village. Her speech was received with resounding applause.

This was followed by various MOP urging the council to take the opportunity to invite new people to come forward and join the council, especially as two councillors of proven ability had recently resigned leaving only seven in office. The council did not seem to react positively to these requests, only time will tell.

After 35 minutes of public contributions the meeting commenced and eventually arrived at item 23/174 One issue of note was the need to replace the chairman of the TFWG following the resignation of Jean Stainthorpe from the council. The TFWG had selected Councillor Stephen Elliot, who has been instrumental in leading many of the successful improvements to the Turnpike Field. His appointment had to be formally ratified at this meeting. The Chair asked for a show of hands in favour, but it was significant that one element on the council would not support his appointment, a confirmation, if any be needed, of Mrs Christine Johnson's clinical observations, but more was to come.

At item (v) To discuss and approve booking of Audlem Music Festival, the reason why so many MOPs were present, councillor Lynnette Hopkins asked for the item to be moved to Part B of the agenda so that the discussion could take place 'In Camera,' a blatant attempt to change the agenda mid meeting. The room erupted in anger with shouts of disgrace. The Chairman and some councillors pointed out that it was on the agenda to be discussed in public and that discussion should proceed, the room eventually settled down and a rational and reasoned debate of the issues involved concerning the use of the field for camping, took place.

Mrs Gayle Callwood gave the meeting the information that the sale contract stipulated that no charges were to be made and that the camping must be free. She also informed the room that she had written to the council eight months previously to clarify some issues but had never received a reply. All parties involved aired their views, the council's concern for the legal position to be clarified in respect of charging for the pitches was made and solutions were put forward from the festival organisers, something that could never have been achieved 'In Camera.' The resulting decision to give qualified permission, subject to a satisfactory legal clarification the following day, was the outcome.

The disunity and desire from some elements on the council for things to be done in secret, away from public scrutiny, goes against everything that open government stands for and is proving to be a very destructive force, not only for our council, but our community in general. The public turnout demonstrates the need for an injection of additional members onto council who are prepared to call out the existing force of negativity and blocking mentality that currently pervades and is driving good councillors to resign.

Peter Morgan