Councillors are, indeed, elected, although I believe that there has not been an actual election for Melbourn’s PC in the last 20 years or more. They are still “volunteers” in the sense that “Melbourn Resident” meant as they voluntarily put themselves forward and they do not get any sort of remuneration. That sounds like voluntary work to me.

The difference, I think, is that as a Councillor they are duty bound to do a certain amount of work whereas a volunteer only does what they wish to.

In reality the much-discussed report publication is to some extent academic as enough hints have been given to reveal unambiguously who is genuinely at fault, but the extraordinary thing to witness is how the person in question and close associates continue to dig themselves deeper and deeper in an apparent attempt to cling on to some reputation – I believe it’s safe to say that horse has bolted.

For me the question is to what extent the rest of the councillors are implicated in the dubious practice and wrongdoings, and in consideration of this the reader might view the above list of names and draw their own conclusion. Whether by active support, passive aquiescence or by submission to the insidious coercion that I understand has become common practice in the council’s internal conduct (the public was able to witness this personal style on display at the most recent meeting which I’m in no doubt would be ratcheted up significantly in private), the councillors who have resisted openness and scrutiny and not stood up for personal respect are jointly-responsible for the situation the council is now in. It puzzles me how slow they seem to be to recognise this and are repeating their mistakes. Maybe we might give them the benefit of doubt and assume they are embarrassed of their complicity, or perhaps even fearful of legal consequences for them personally once (inevitably) everything is out in the open, but for sure their actions over the coming weeks will reveal to all residents where they stand as village representatives. My guess is that they are enduring personal anxieties over their positions, but their opportunities to repair damage to their own reputations are rapidly running out. Unfortunately meanwhile the whole community of Melbourn is being let down.

It really doesn’t matter where one stands on the specific accusations, the fact is that for the council they have become all-consuming and nothing further can be effectively accomplished until they are dealt with satisfactorily. So, councillors, we know you are volunteers and generally well-intentioned, but you currently have district councillors, CAPALC, and chairpersons from other best-practice Parish Councils advising you that the present Melbourn Parish Council is dysfunctional, so please take the hint…