According to the blurb, the event will enable those taking part to:
- Discover more about the Council's current financial position;
- Consider proposed options for savings;
- Contribute ideas and suggestions relevant to the budget; and
- Be clear about the process that will be followed in arriving at the budget for 2014-15
That puts the councillors in their place, doesn't it?
In practice "local media" will mean primarily a couple of hacks from the James Journal and its stable mates, and their presence suggests that the main thrust of this event is a PR exercise to ensure that the papers are on message.
The manager of the council's press office will no doubt be on hand to make sure that they leave knowing what to say.
Who the selected businesses are is anyone's guess. Sainsbury's? The Scarlets? Representatives of third sector organisations such as Towy Community Church (a registered company, by the way)? Perhaps someone from R&A Properties from nearby Llangennech, whose owners are "known to the council's officers". R&A's clients include Cassidian (drones and armoured vehicles).
Somehow it seems unlikely that invitations will have gone out to Unison and other stakeholders who might ask awkward questions.
Invitations to other representatives of the local media, such as the bloggers, have not yet arrived.
Perhaps Unison and other uninvited but interested parties may wish to go along anyway. Registration begins at 9.15.
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