Democracy gained a small victory yesterday. A proposal from the leadership to ask for a review of allowances was in part defeated by a good cross-section of members. We all agreed that the allowances for the new council post the 2013 elections should be set by this council as that relieves the new members from voting on their own remuneration when just elected (with all its accusations of gravy trains and snouts in the trough). As Liberal Democrats we stood on a manifesto of a freeze in councillors allowances for the whole 4 year term of this council and have stuck to that pledge. Therefore we were happy to vote in favour of that part of the proposal. What we did not agree with was a review of the current allowances and particularly the proposition that the extra Cabinet Support roles should receive a special responsibility allowance  thereby increasing the cost of the cabinet to a totally disproportionate amount of the ‘democracy’ budget, we did ask that the review should consider what means could help to redress the age and gender balance within the membership. It is important, to my mind to have people from all walks and conditions of life. It helps to connect us with the people we represent if we can understand their aspirations and problems from sometimes bitter experience and helps to inform our decisions.

Having voted last year for the Council Meeting to become an all day meeting, it was disappointing to see that at the end of the day there were only about 40 councillors left in the chamber. Some cabinet members had also left before the session where they can be asked questions by members on the areas where they have decision making powers. I know it is a long day for some, especially those of us from the east of Cornwall but Council is the only meeting which we are really required to attend and I believe that includes staying to the end.