No this blog is not about tonight’s full Council meeting. Last week I was at St Agnes’ RC Primary School in Cricklewood. I have been a Governor there since 1988. This was my twenty second Christmas play. As usual it was the story of the Nativity. But this time we had space ships and sat-navs thrown in. So hence the tile of their play “Christmas with the Aliens”

The demography of the school has changed since 1988. Back then it was mainly Irish families. Glancing at the names in the programme I noticed many eastern and central European names. Many I guess are Polish. This was confirmed later by the Headteacher.

But so what; the children were wonderful. They obviously were enjoying themselves. They set a great example; Young people from different backgrounds working positively together. I know I came away feeling uplifted and the same goes for the proud mums, dads and family members who came to watch.

On Sunday I was at our regular Sunday ward surgery at the Railway Terraces. The surgery is held in the allotment hut. The residents had converted it into a Santa’s Grotto for Christmas. I was presented with a cuddly toy (dutifully declared in the register of interests).

Last night it was business as usual .Well not quite. We all dutifully turned up at the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny sub committee. This is the committee which scrutinises items called in by Members. Many of you will already know, if you read my postings, Conservative Members never, well hardly ever, call anything in. Well. I have an admission to make, this time I could not be bothered to call any thing in. Neither its seems could the Labour Members. I guess this was down to the fiasco last time and the hoops we have to put ourselves through just to ask questions. Victory to The Administration I hear you complain. No just a lull in the battle. Wait for the New Year.

So we had more time to look at other issues. Under new Provisions brought in by the Police and Justice Act 2006 and the Local Government Act 2007, Councillors became able to raise items for debate and resolution at council committee meetings. Didn’t we always have that ability? It is called “Councillor Call for Action”

Any way typical of any new legislation this Government brings in rafts of complicated procedures are required to implement the regulations. Not to be out done the Council has drawn up a labyrinth of procedural rules to enable elected Councillors to take advantage of this. I would need a separate blog to explain these. All you need to know it that it involves a form, written evidence, and an appeals mechanism if the designated Officer rejects your submission.

To be fair the provisions are meant to apply to circumstance where all other avenues of pursuing a local issue have failed. But here is the rub you must provide evidence of exploring all other routes, including raising the problem with Officers, Council Chiefs, a Cabinet Member or putting the item on the agenda of an area environment committee and so on and so on.

As I said at the meeting the only circumstances it seemed to me where a Councillors Call for Action could ever succeed is if every Council Department had closed down. All area environment committees had been abolished, and all the Cabinet Members had gone off to Australia. On second thoughts pass me the rule book!