We had our illustrious Cllr Plant, the gift that keeps on giving! Apparently, he seems to believe, having had a single road built 6–7 years ago between Gorleston and Bradwell, is solving our infrastructure problems, and justifies all the house building being proposed since.

I’m surprised you didn’t suggest putting another cycle lane on it councillor!

Then there was Cllr Tony Wright, who apparently considers democracy to be working because a proposed development at the Save the woodland at Meadow Park & Recreational Ground Gorleston area was reduced from 70 homes to 50, in a previous proposal, after residents overwhelmingly objected to the development altogether!

If that is what you consider “democracy working” Tony, I’m very glad to hear you won’t be standing again next May!

Then we had Cllr Daniel Candon, who seemed particularly rattled by Cllr Jon Wedon’s opposition to their proposed Local Plan – and indeed apparently seems to consider our infrastructure-first approach, to development, as coming in with a sledge hammer, when, to use his words, a “surgical approach” is required. Well Daniel, if you consider developing on prime agricultural land and destroying our greenbelt as “surgical”, I would dread to see you version of a sledgehammer attack!

Cllr Candon also asked where GYF would build instead. Well, sorry to disappoint you Daniel, but you’ll have to wait for our manifesto.

Rest assured, we have plenty of plans – and in May we’ll show residents exactly what responsible, infrastructure-first development looks like.

We also had Cllr Jeal bringing a motion to stand up for our traders on Great Yarmouth market. If ever there was prime example of a councillor trying to close the gate after the horse has bolted that would be it! I don’t recall any of the councillors standing up for the traders when they were crying out for help, about being moved off the plaza to the carpark end of the cow shed!

And then there was the issue that, in my view, really demonstrated just how disconnected GYBC has become from residents.

Labour Cllr Trevor Wainwright has unfortunately been absent for six months now, due to serious ill health. I have every sympathy for his circumstances, however, councillors voted tonight to allow him to remain in office, potentially through to the May elections.

That could mean more than 12 months of councillor allowances paid while being absent from those duties.

This isn’t about criticising someone for being ill, we can all sympathise with those situations. but it is about accountability and taxpayers’ money. At a time when so many of our constituents are struggling to make ends meet, and the council finances are on a shoestring, it is appalling to think councillors consider this an acceptable allocation of tax payer funds. It was a true demonstration of the the friendly uni-party in action!

And finally, in an ironic end to the evening, Labour councillors opposed a Conservative motion, calling on the Government to return taxpayers’ money wasted on the now-cancelled Local Government Reorganisation. With the Conservatives lacking the numbers present in the chamber to vote, the motion was lost due to the Labour opposition not supporting it!

I wont even delve into the part of the councillors blowing smoke up each others back-sides at the end of the evening to congratulate Cllr Jeal on his 40years of service. I would however suggest that after 40 years of service I would expect a Councillor to know the processes of how to propose an amendment, to a motion in the chamber!

Quite frankly, tonight was yet another reminder of why GYBC needs a complete change of guard…. and we are coming!

Residents deserve better than this shower.