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Councillor defends using phone during meetings
AN under-fire councillor today defended himself after criticism he used his mobile phone during council meetings.
Coun Simon Renwick, who was recently suspended from the Conservative party for "bringing the party into disrepute", said he believed politics should be brought into the 21st Century.
He claimed the use of micro-blogging websites such as Twitter and Facebook would bring local democracy to a wider audience.
Writing on his website blog, Coun Renwick said there was no harm in him having his mobile phone with him during council meetings.
He said: "I could use my Blackberry to tweet (post Twitter messages) important decisions to the people who follow me and update my Facebook status at the same time.
"Surely this will see local democracy come alive and closer to the people.
"At most Fylde Council meetings we have say half a dozen members of the public in attendance. At Wesham (town council) meetings it's usually nobody, so why not let people know what's going on live?
"Spending a few seconds after every agenda item updating would not be a hassle and would allow instant live information."
Coun Renwick is hoping to make a political comeback following his suspension in August.
He recently attended a council meeting and substituted for a Conservative member on the council's Community Outlook Scrutiny committee.
And he used his blog to hit back at some Wesham town councillors who criticised him for having his mobile phone on the table during a meeting.
"Some weeks ago I was criticised for having my mobile phone on during a town council meeting," he said.
"It was doing nothing, it was not ringing, buzzing or anything other than just sitting on the table – quietly.
"Some people took exception to this and I took exception at their demanding ways.
"We're not in big-brother Soviet Russia.
"If I had been constantly taking calls, well, that would be another matter."
But Wesham and Fylde Council colleague Coun Linda Nulty said mobile phones had no place at council meetings. We were concerned Simon was using the device to record the meeting which is not allowed," she said.
"But the main problem is his use of it at all.
"The first thing that is said at most council meetings by the chairman is can everyone turn their mobile phones off.
"It's standard procedure.
"Putting things on the internet before they have even been properly agreed is not an appropriate way to deal with council business."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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