Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

An easy riddle to solve.

The answer is because, if they get a result they don't like, they try asking the question again a few months later.

Not long ago, the Standards Communication Sub-committee at WC (on which I sit) felt that limiting the number of speakers at council meetings (such as planning) didn't seem to be in the spirit of open government. The committee therefore carefully worded a proposal expressing how the WC constitution could be amended.

This seems to have caused a certain amount of angst as the committee was, earlier this week, asked if we wished to look at our proposal again - specifically where planning committees are concerned. We had a nice report with the agenda and even a briefing note from the head of planning which, to me, drew some bizarre conclusions and made surprising assertions.

The WC officers had, however, overlooked one point - the WC constitution doesn't allow for a decision to be re-visited within six months unless the committee that made that decision asks to look at it again. Officers have neither the right nor the power to raise the matter for re-consideration.

No doubt the 'powers that be' (or rather the 'powers that think they are') will try to de-rail this dangerous lurch towards democracy as it proceeds through various committees. If I have anything to do with it, they will fail dismally.