LIB DEM local leader, Councillor Phil Gilchrist wants to know if the Globe, the press and the public can stay at a committee meeting when it deals with the chemical spillage at GATX, Eastham. It is part of the Eastham councillor's campaign calling for more public accountability regarding Council matters such as Birkenhead's Hamilton and Lairdside re-generation areas.

The agenda for next Tuesday's enviromental health committee has item 27 - the chemical spillage on January 28 - marked exempt information under the Local Government Access to Information Act 1985. The public and press may be excluded.

"I want this matter kept in the public eye. I will be asking council officials for the reasons why the public may be excluded. It would not be right for the press and residents attending the meeting to be told just before that they cannot stay for the debate."

Coun Gilchrist is concerned that too many reports are mixed in with contract details.

"The documents are not sent to the media because the paper work is labelled confidential using various clauses under the Local Government Act, protecting the Council's interests."

Coun Gilchrist says the public should have known more about Hamilton Quarter's proposals to pedestrianise and alter Birkenhead's historic Hamilton Square.

Coun Gilchrist says Hamilton Quarter has now agreed that he can have its reports and documents but they remain confidential and meetings are not open to the press.

He welcomes Wirral Council talking to residents about Lairdside/ New Ferry waterfront proposals. "However, at a committee meeting I was unable to support a watersports lake project because I still have no figures on how much it is going to cost to run. It could be an expensive chicken and and expensive egg with the burden on Wirral's Council Tax payers in years to come."

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