I am a veteran of dozens of council meetings as a newspaper reporter, so wanted to pick over the bones of the Handforth Parish Council Zoom meeting fiasco
When anticipating who the early breakout social media stars of 2021 would be, few of us would have suggested the members of the Handforth Parish Council Planning & Environment Committee.
Yet in the last 24-hours, the edited highlights of their Zoom meeting have gone viral in a way that perhaps no other public sector recording ever has (1m+ views at the time of writing - watch below, swearing warning).
While seeing what are probably longstanding village rivalries and grudges play out on camera is undeniably funny it also speaks to the importance of good governance at all levels of our political systems.
As a former local newspaper journalist, I’ve sat through more than my fair share Parish, District and County Council meetings and can confirm that they can often err on the side of the eccentric.
What I can also confirm is that local government can thank its hard working and diligent officers for largely keeping part-time councillors on track. The expertise (and patience!) of officials in guiding elected officials towards evidence-based, legal decisions, through sound advice and effective briefings is a key part of a functioning local government.
The Handforth storm in a teacup is a timely reminder and inadvertent tribute to the unsung heroes who quietly make sure we get the government we deserve.
Tim Coulthard
