Well, I am surprised that I am reluctantly having to upbraid our resident spectre this week, but RTG seems to have lost his touch in his latest missive. 

Yes, we have had unfortunate postponements of our council meeting, but the delays have been valid and reasonable.

The initial postponement due to the extreme temperatures was requested by some of our more elderly and infirm members and it was only sensible to accede to their requests. Last month, we had to postpone again due to the Queen's death and the next available date was 4th October. When it was pointed out that this coincided with the Conservative conference we again postponed, this time by only two days and the meeting will finally be held on the 6th.

Babergh council meeting on Thursday preicted to be feisty

It is the first time that this has happened but the courtesy would, of course, be extended for all party conferences. We will be having two meetings this month to catch up on business. 

I can confirm that I most definitely am not attending the conference – as avid Babergh YouTube channel viewers would have seen, I chaired the Cabinet meeting on Monday this week.

RTG's assertion that I have gone to Brum, much as I do like the city, is completely inaccurate. Besides, I am not sure the conference is a very united or happy place this year and there is every indication that the attendees need the 'guiding hand' of the city's most famous fictional son, Thomas Shelby, to instil some discipline and order.

As to our spooky friend's speculation about a healing of the schism, I recommend viewing the council meeting on Thursday evening: it could get feisty.

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Read Rowland Taylor's Ghost latest column here...