Delusions of competency

Swansea Council’s ruling regime continues to screw up the local planning process - whilst attempting a spot of obvious blame shifting.

As you would expect, Lib Dems insist that the “abominations” that exist in the city are all the fault of officers rather than themselves. So be it, but if (as yet unreported) events at a recent planning meeting are an indication of the maturity exercised in their decision-making then the council tax-paying public  could be excused for holding a very different opinion.

According to observers, cabinet members continually fell out with the chairman and her unique style of deciding who spoke on what. Proceedings then descended deeper into farce over the near forcible ejection of a one committee member for demanding the right of reply to some slur, real or imagined. Such dysfunctional behaviour is unfortunately nothing new. An earlier meeting had to be abandoned because so many councillors had pushed off beforehand; meaning that decisions on applications could not be taken.

A Lib Dem councillor is quoted in the local paper as saying that greater pride needs to be taken in the city’s appearance. Maybe so, but it seems to us – and the Wales Audit Office – that the root cause of any low esteem issues clearly stem from the council chamber.