Deep disagreements about the way members of the Town Council should engage and be accessible to residents of Ross-on-Wye were revealed at the Town Council meeting on Monday, November 13th.

A proposal had been agreed at the Policy and Management Committee to run Councillors Surgeries on a monthly basis from January, rather than the weekly surgeries which take place currently.

Councillor Cutter said: “We have to decide whether they are effective for the amount of effort.” But he added, “that does not mean I am not accessible. People can, and do speak to me at all hours of the day and night.” Councillor Robert Gibbs suggested that it might be a good idea to use the time before meetings, while councillors are already at the Council offices.

Councillor Hannah Lerego said there are lots of ways for people to contact councillors via email, telephone and social media.

A suggestion was made for the Ross Gazette to regularly publish all the contact details for the Councillors so that residents would know how to get hold of a Councillor when they needed to.

Councillor Jane Roberts suggested that a volunteer could take over organising the rota and only councillor who wished to participate would go on the rota.

Cllr Cutter said this would not be acceptable, you could not have individual Councillors acting on behalf of the council unless it was an agreed council policy.

Cllr Julian Gren added: “I do not think random surgeries would be good for the public.”

A named vote was taken and eight Councillor voted against the proposal. The clerk said this would mean weekly surgeries continuing.