Confessions of a Licencing Panel chairperson
Last night I participated in my second Licensing Panel sitting. I arrived late at the pre-meeting briefing to discover that my fellow panel members, New Labour councillors Mike Hunt and Jagdish Sharma had, in their kindness and generosity, unanimously elected me in my absence to chair the meeting!I won't go into the details of the applications made or decisions taken because they will be available in detail on the London Borough of Hounslow website shortly, but what touched me about both this and the previous panel meeting in which I had taken part was the way in which three councillors from "opposing" camps were able to work sensibly together in the absence of a party whip.Councillors Hunt and Sharma and myself considered each application on its merits, discussed the issues intelligently and reached a consensus like adults in every instance. At the previous meeting in which I had participated, along with Gerald McGregor (Conservative) and Bob Whatley (Labour), a similar spirit of co-operation was evident.After years of having to put up with the yah-boo playground politics of the council chamber, and having looked on despairingly as the ovine hordes meekly capitulated en masse to the party whip which accompanied the decision to close John Aird House, this really was a breath of fresh air.It is the first and only time that I have ever chaired a meeting of a council committee (when I was informed of my "election" to the post I must admit that my first instinct was to look for the catch). In my view I wasn't the best man for the job, but I was grateful for the support of my two fellow panel members, and the officers, throughout the sitting.It might seem like asking the obvious, but isn't this - sensible, adult, consensus politics - a better way?
Phil Andrews ● 7111d11 Comments