Finally, councillors talk tortoise
Tomorrow's meeting of Cornwall Council should hear this question from councillor Chris Pascoe:
"I would hope that the Council will ask central Government to clarify and amend the 1981 Zoo Licensing Act to prevent the anomaly of the Tortoise Sanctuary requiring a license. I also understand that it is the Cabinet's job to interpret this law so can there be a rethink on its interpretation so that we are not made to look so foolish in the eyes of the public? Instead of saying 'wild' animals, we could use the term 'dangerous' wild animals."This is the first time that elected members, in any formal sense, will have had the opportunity to discuss something which has seen the council ridiculed in the national media and brought some extremely unpleasant emails into the inbox of the responsible Cabinet member, Lance Kennedy. If ever there was an issue which better demonstrated the marginalisation of councillors, and questioned their relevance to the running of County Hall, I'd like to know what it is.
I'm Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 27th Oct 2011, Chris Pascoe wrote:Please dont make the Tortoises homeless as they will suffer from shell shock. DEFRA please stop being so hevey handed with chipping them and do we need to chip them unless they change hands? As for Cornwall council I will fight for the Tortoises corner and hope that we can get the law changed in time for the sanctuarys reopening.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)