“Not sure whether you are Cllr Barry Walters who comments on this site or someone with the same name. However, the article refers to new public government engagement proposals, "Reconnecting Police and the People". I thought they were already connected under the PACT and other community engagement processes but of course that was a good initiative from the old government so never mind that it works, just throw it aside and spend some money on new ones.

Your other comments just reiterate the misconceptions Cllr Terry was under and if you knew anything about PACT, you would realise that you have just quoted utter rubbish. Of course, councillors should be able to speak on matters that concern them but in the correct and appropriate manner. But they have to remember they are representing the electorate, not themselves and their own misguided views of a process that they have not bothered to engage in. Political games are afoot here and that is not good for Portishead. I happen to think our police do a fantastic job here in Portishead and undertake all their responsibilities to the best of their ability with their given resources. It is a continual process irrespective of named priorities that are decided taking into account concerns as they arise from various communications, not just those discussed at PACT meetings. One councillor appears to think that this is not the case without providing any evidence to back his comments up. However, there is plenty of evidence to show that our police are doing their jobs properly and that PACT has been successful. For your information, priorities are recorded and available on the police website but of course you aleady know that but wish to stir the pot. Finally, nobody who attends meetings "elects themselves to spend public money" as you put it, they are merely there to raise matters that concern them. (If you are Cllr Barry Walters incidentally, then think about all the things that residents have succeeded in achieving in this town where councillors have previously failed). If you want to talk about wasting resources, you ought to look a little closer to home before accusing members of the public.”

“Hi Ms Hennessey.
Not sure how the operation of PACT in Portishead arises from this article.
However an elected Councillor on the Police Authority correctly points out that members of Pact are those who choose to go to the meeting and then elect themselves to spend public money, with no audit that I know of, and no mandate, and do not publish Minutes of their meetings and then sway the local Police to their own private views.
Are you saying elected Councillors should not speak in public on matters that concern them?
Or is it that you consider that they should only speak out on matters with your prior agreement?”

“James, I have written to the Police Authority to ask if firstly,they find it acceptable for one of their members to single handedly damage a process that has been working well in Portishead in recent months and which the Authority supports. Secondly, as it wishes to consult with the people, if it also feels all residents should be able to raise concerns and contribute to policing priorities? What is clear is that the new Condem Party wishes to change initiatives that originate from the old government of which PACT is one. Now Cllr Terry being Conservative, I wonder which he will be supporting irrespective of whether the original process was successful or not? His views on PACT make it apparent which he will be voting for. And they wonder why residents do not wish to become councillors?!”

“Most of the so-called 'independant' members of the Police Authority are placed there by the central Government; the Home Office.”

“Now it all makes sense as to why one councillor in Portishead is trying to damage the good work PACT (Partners and Communities Together) does by making inappropriate and inaccurate comments which he knows are not true. This councillor is a member of the Police Authority - I knew there was something more behind his comments and this is it!! It is now very apparent that this councillor has a conflict of interests being a member of the Police Authority and strangely his "declared interests" statement at North Somerset Council does not include all his memberships. Now I know why.”