Councillor unhappy over verbal updates

Verbal updates to a council “should be the exception, not the norm” according to a group leader.

Councillor Roger Evans, who leads the Liberal Democrat group on Shropshire Council, said he was growing frustrated about the lack of written reports contained within meeting agendas.

He said there had been a growing trend for officers to give verbal updates to council scrutiny committees, meaning councillors and members of the public who cannot attend the meetings are missing out on vital information.

Speaking at today’s (Wednesday) People Overview Committee meeting, where a verbal update was given on the council’s Early Help scheme, Councillor Evans said it was something that needed to be stopped.

He said: “I am growing increasingly frustrated by the amount of verbal reports that are being presented to scrutiny committees.

“There was a colleague of mine who was desperate to attend today’s meeting to hear the verbal update as it is a very important issue.

“As there was no written report she did not know what was going to be said.

“She then could not come along today because of an emergency in her ward where she had to help out two members of the public.

“Because we have yet again got a verbal update rather than written she will miss out on what was said.

“I would like an update to be written and attached to the minutes because it is becoming an increasingly common occurrence.

“Verbal reports should be the exception to the rule, not the norm, but we are heading further away from that.”

Councillor Evans, who represents Longden, said a written report can be studied by all members prior to the meeting and questions can be prepared.

He said it offered a better democratic structure and could also be looked back on in future.

But Councillor Peggy Mullock, who chairs the people overview committee, said she preferred a verbal update.

The Whitchurch North member said: “I would actually prefer to have the person in the know at the meeting talking to us and giving an update.

“We can then speak to them at the meeting and ask questions of them and scrutinise whatever it is that they are presenting to us.”

The committee agreed that a written report on the Early Help scheme could be compiled and attached to the minutes of the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Evans added: “It is right that we have the reports ahead of the meeting so members can be prepared.

“It is important to scrutinise the papers we get so we can ask the right questions.”