Alan is saved

Thurs Sept 25th

is going to be a big

day for Cornwall.

My friends and colleagues at County Hall, Truro will gather in the Trelawny Room at half past one and announce their choice for the new Chief Executive of the new Unitary Authority which begins work next April. We have all been nibbling our finger nails nervously in case dear Alan, who - naturally - made it to the short list, should be selected. Let me be frank. It would have been a triumph for Cornwall and a disaster for Somerset. But my good friends in Cornwall have responded to my entreaties and decided that Somerset can hang on to its most excellent leader. I am delighted. You will be too. And we Liberal Democrats hold openness and honesty in great regard. So I am happy to reproduce the important items on the agenda for tomorrow's deliberations in Cornwall:

4.
Exclusion of the Press and Public
The Implementation Executive is asked to consider a resolution that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified in the following item on the grounds that there is likely to be a disclosure to the public of exempt information of the following description:

Information relating to an individual

5.
Appointment of Chief Executive of New Council

But, frankly, I cannot imagine what possible information about any individual the Cornish executive would wish to keep secret. This must be a typographical error.