A self-confessed 'political animal' has called on Teignmouth Town Council to conduct its planning meetings in public. Sean Brogan, a former Labour Party activist who quit the party when Tony Blair gained control, has said the council's current policy of only publishing the minutes of its planning sub-committee is hindering the democratic process. Mr Brogan's move comes shortly after the Post highlighted the town council's attitude, specifically in connection with the Spirit of Teignmouth sailing project. 'We have had a couple of planning debacles in Teignmouth such as the Spirit of Teignmouth row and the Coombe Vale Road issue,' he said. 'What the council is doing by holding its planning meeting in private where the public cannot hear what is being said is an affront to democracy. 'They should make planning the subject of a full committee and open it up to the public and press.' So vexed by the issue is Mr Brogan that he has drawn up a petition calling on the council to reverse its current policy. It reads: 'We the electorate of Teignmouth call on the town council to hold their planning meetings in public and make them accessible to the public and press.' Mr Brogan, a child-minder who has lived in Teignmouth for 25 years, said he had felt motivated to draw up the petition, which is available to sign at newsagent Teign News, in Teign Street, by his life-long interest in politics. 'I'm a political animal, I'm interested in preserving people's rights,' he said. No other Teignbridge town or parish council – they only have the power to comment on planning applications, not determine them – is known to conduct its planning talks in private.
