No show Jo's excuse

Firstly, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to CM.

I encourage her to contact me at one of the contact points she has been provided with and I will then progress any issue she has.

With regards to Monday, May 16 I was unable to attend the surgery because a councillor was urgently needed to sit on a committee which was being held that day.

Another councillor was unable to sit at short notice (late Friday afternoon) and it was felt to be important that we had a full committee.

The subject being reviewed had received 70 written objections and 13 of the objectors had made arrangements to attend.

There were also five people attending on behalf of the business, three council officers and another two councillors.

The hearing took approximately four hours, during which time participants do not have access to external communication.

Whilst you may think there are enough other councillors, unfortunately at this time of year with a large turnover of councillors and the new ones not being trained this was not possible.

I wasn’t able to arrange cover for the surgery, as would be normal practice, due to the short notice. (For example in June Coun Bob Johnson will be covering the session for me as I am at a conference.)

I do know that the CAB staff did offer to take a message for me and also gave the two attendees one of the business cards I leave with them in case their clients need to contact me.

Again, I apologise for any inconvenience and if the two people who attended get in touch I will deal with their issue as soon as possible.

Coun Josie Paszek

Hillsborough Ward