Well Done

I was amazed to find a story in the Rutland Times that for once allowed both sides to speak and for people to make up there own minds about a story to do with Rutland Country Council. Since I have recently been one of many criticising the local press I though it was only fair to congratulate them.

In their recent story about the three councilors they are thinking of taking legal action over not only did the paper give the views of the Conservative run County Council but also those of the three councilors that they wish to prosecute for deformation. So well done to the local paper for taking the right approach for a change, now all we need is some good old fashioned investigative journalism into stories stories pertaining to the council. 

For those that don't know the about the facts behind this story, it was in the national press not that long ago about Rutland Country Council taking legal action against three of the councilors for trying to get information about the dealings of the council by using freedom of information requests and asking questions other council members by email. 

Unfortunately they decided to call themselves the anti-corruption party which seemed to anger the ruling party at the council, as they thing it implies that they are corrupt.  The government have taken a rather dim view of the council trying to use a legal route under the Localism Act to sue the councilors concerned for deformation to shut them up, but if this stops them using anti-harassment legislation remains to be seen. 

The fact is whatever the decision is that is taken at the public meeting you can rest assured that it was made in private before the meeting takes place, like a lot of decisions the ruling party at the council makes, but that is politics for you.