EVEN the biggest political anorak in the world will find some part of the democratic process as dull as ditchwater.
In the world of local councils, it's always the plannning committees, full councils and cabinets who tend to hog the limelight, which is fair enough as this is where the big decisions are made.
But as this week's Advertiser shows, it doesn't mean that there's nothing interesting elsewhere.
Take for instance our report on page 26 on how planning committee councillors will now be able to air their views about schemes just to go before them, as long as they don't give the impression they've already made up their minds on an issue.
The rules, brought in by the Standards Board for England, have been immensely unpopular with most on the committee - and their irritation is only heightened when an issue comes up in their word as they have to stand there with their traps shut.
Unfortunately, the rules were based on the assumption that all councillors can't be trusted to make sound judgements based on evidence put before them.
It's sad, but typical of just how many unnecesary rules local government representatives and officers are forced to work under these days. No room for discretion or common sense.
Thankfully, the SBE has seen the light and has now to a certain extent relaxed the rules.
In truth, any councillor or civil servant who tries to use the system for their own ends these days are plain stupid as the risk of getting caught is greater than it's ever been.
And if they ignore that, they deserve everything they get.
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