BRIGG TOWN COUNCIL FACES THE PUBLIC

Brigg Town Council has altered its seating arrangements so members of the public attending meetings no longer have back views of some of the elected representatives, as used to be the case.
Councillors formerly sat at tables formed into a square with the public viewing gallery behind; now there's an improved three-sided arrangement. It's a welcome move, in our view.
We took this picture at the start of the latest of the council's monthly meetings in the Angel Suite. This is the view the public now has of proceedings.
Pictured on the left of picture are Couns Rob Waltham, Louise Mikkonen, Jane Gibbons, James Truepenny, Tina Campbell and Mike Campion.
On the top table beyond are Deputy Town Clerk Alison Hannath (left), Town Clerk Dinah Lilley, Town Mayor Coun Sharon Riggall and Deputy Town Mayor Coun Donald Campbell.
On the right, are Couns Jane Kitching (nearest the camera), Chris Dyson, Brian Parker, Mike Storey, Ann Eardley, Carl Sherwood, Luke Sherwood and Nigel Sherwood.
Sixteen of the 19 town councillors were present at this meeting.
In case you were wondering, special provision is made in law for ladies and gentlemen of the press.
Local councils must provide them with suitable seating and also make a phone available for telephoning reports (Public Bodies Admissions to Meetings Act 1960 updated by the Local Government Act 1972).
In this era of mobile phones and email, perhaps that's something in need of updating by the law-makers in Parliament.
In the 1980s, Glanford Borough Council provided a booth, with payphone, near the entrance to Hewson House, off Station Road, where its meetings were held every Thursday - morning and afternoon sessions.
Good relations existed between the press and the Glanford authority, particularly during Coun Terry Atherton's spell as leader.  
Click on the picture above to take a closer look.