Letter: Bureaucracy Is Getting In the Way of Democracy At County Hall

Published on: 25 Oct, 2013
Updated on: 25 Oct, 2013

SCC sign Surrey County Council

From Fiona White

At the start of Surrey County Council’s Adults Social Care Committee on Thursday (October 24), the vice chairman (who was chairing the committee) read out the standard wording telling people that they couldn’t report during the meeting without her prior consent.

Then she appeared to be reluctant to even let the representative of a carers’ organisation ask a question, despite the fact that he is a regular attender and contributor.

In the wake of the silly and unenforceable decision on banning social media during council meetings, this risks making the council look ridiculous. There are times when bureaucracy appears to get in the way of democracy.

Fiona White is the Lib Dem County Councillor for Guildford West