Committee meeting’s poor turnout

Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 12:50PM BST.

Only half the members of a Shropshire Council committee attended a meeting where the fate of 10 planning applications were decided.

The poor turnout of Shropshire Council members attending meetings has been blamed on upheaval connected to the switch to unitary status.

In all, six members of the 11-strong panel attended the meeting of Shropshire Council’s north area regulatory committee in Wem yesterday.

Numbers dwindled below half when one member left early to attend another meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Paul Wynn, member for Prees, said the time of year and timetable clashes were partly responsible.

“I think it’s because it’s the summer and the council is still bedding in,” he said.

Planning meetings for the north Shropshire area will be held in a mix of venues like Wem and Oswestry following the switch to a single unitary authority in April.

The new set up has drawn criticism from some quarters amid claims councillors have too far to travel to certain meetings.

Some new local joint committee meetings – where the public can have their say on how public funds are spent – have also been poorly attended by members of the public.

View more: Shropshire Council news.