When Councilors are not sure what the Council are doing, then something is wrong.

It's not that the Council is inherently secretive. It's just that those running the Council have other priorities.

The Labour Group therefore moved at a full Council meeting "that in the interests of openness and accountability to the electorate, all Portfolio Holders should be required to report to full Council at least twice in a Municipal year on contemporary and forthcoming matters pertaining to their Portfolio responsibility."

Portfolio holders have a heavy responsibility and should carry the maximum accountability. On every ordinary Council meeting agenda there is an item 'Reports of Portfolio Holders". It should surely be an opportunity for Holders to strut their stuff, and enthuse the Chamber and the Electorate. Yet it is not being used. What have they got to hide? What is the electorate missing by not having a regular update on policies and actions affecting their lives.

It is not good enough for members to learn about important Council decisions through the Grimsby Telegraph, or to be told that reports are on the internet.

The constitution now states that a Portfolio holder must report at least once per year, and any questions have to be submitted three days in advance. How bureaucratic can you get?

A larger Labour opposition to the Tory & Lib/Dem Council is badly needed.