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This is the email which told Cornwall councillors Mario Fonk and Bill Maddern that they could not debate housing policy in a full council meeting:

Dear Cllrs Fonk and Maddern,

Motion - Homechoice

Thank you for your motion. As you are no doubt aware from the Constitution, motions automatically stand referred by me to the Cabinet or relevant Committee. Given the fact that there are resource implications, I will now be referring this motion to the Cabinet, to be fed into the consultation process which is already underway.

This means that it will not be debated on the day but that you and your seconder will be invited to the Cabinet Meeting to give you an opportunity to speak to the Cabinet.

Regards,

Pat
Councillor Mrs Pat Harvey
Chairman
Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council is now one year old. In the past 12 months, only one motion has been allowed for debate at a full council meeting - the one about about webcasting and access for TV cameras.

Several councillors have told me they disagree with the practical consequences of approving Mario Fonk's motion, but nevertheless believe it is such an important issue it should be debated by the full council. The alternative, they fear, is to simply accept or reject a recommendation from Cabinet which might (or not) reflect the original intention. Either way, they say, democracy it ain't.