Monday night's full council meeting was one of the more "interestng" and it was good to see so much input from the ten councillors present. At times, perhaps our vigour in making a point overstepped the bounds of politeness and usual decorum, and indeed since the meeting I have had calls from outside the group of councillors present asking if I'm OK and offering support. Yes, thank you - I'm fine; putting points across and campaigning for stuff you believe in is not about populatity, though it helps when it comes to a vote.

In particular, a thank you to the councillor who called me to follow up and exprssed his personal regret at overstepping the mark. Noted, and thank you. If (in the heat of the moment) I said anything I should not have done, I extend my apoloies too. I wasn't aware of my doing so at the meeting, but have since received inputs concerning my comments about the absence of the staff members who had crafted text in agenda items from the meeting at which we were to discuss and being asked to adopt their text. So whilst I still feel it was in order for me to criticise the fact that we were being asked to go forward with a proposal in the absence of it's author, I should not have expressed that criticism in a way that shared the reason for absence, which without permission to share was an invastion of the personal privacy of that staff member. The written record on my online page has been corrected, and I apologise to that staff member for the concern caused.

* I was relieved that the Social Media and Communications Policy was put back to a subsequent meeting to give is proper time to consider it, and I have been promised that the recording of Monday night WILL remain available online until (at least) the minutes have been approved at the next full council meeting. At https://www.facebook.com/melksham.town/videos/858699415808668

* I remain disappointed at the lack of progress from the Town Council (or feedback on it if a lot of background work has been done) during the three months allocated to waymark our direction on the Blue Pool, where there is a window of opportunity to plan forward for the town with both the Blue Pool and adjacent and attached Assembly Hall. I proposed that the Friends of Melksham Assmebly Hall, who have worked informally to come up with an example of what could be done, and what FoMAH members feel would be a good idea, should be given a remit to carry on the work for the council in the apparent absence of progress from them. Cheeky, really - FoMAH isn't an elected body and of course the council and the councillors you chose at the last elections are the responsible body. I couldn't have expected them to pass over any authority though more of a tone of "thank you" and less of a tone of indigation and "that's our job" would have been appreciated. Anyway - some effect in the right direction there. Further writing to follow to take things positively forward. Accompanying picture - Blue Pool roof As an aside - a HUGE "thank you" to the FoMAH team who have contributed so far to the example of what could be done. This wonderful volunteer enthusiasm is so much appreciated and can help move us councillors toward a well informed decision for the town. Presenation is at http://www.fomah.org.uk/bluepool_20230717.pdf

* It's been standard practise where members of the public are present - especially where there are several on the same topic - to bring that item forward in the agenda as a politeness to members of the public who might not want to sit there for up to three hours. I was surprised and disappointed that this convention was not followed on Monday - though it did mean that our public saw the council in action more than the othewrise would, and that cannot be a bad thing.

* There were two matters late in the aganda that were of confidentail nature. One we took and the outcome was positive. The other was time dependent and was lost; hard work by other councillors had gone into it (thank you to them) and my understanding is that work will go forward as an element of the neighbourood plan. I personally am happy with the detail in there, and secure in the knowledge that it will come to further (and public) consulatation before being adopted. Of ocurse I cannot speak for what my councillor colleagues would have said the other night, but I guess it would have been none-contraversial and indeed the hard work done by fellow councillors has (in my view) resulted in a brilliant plan element that will help take the town and area forward.