Jackie Weaver does have authority
You've probably all seen it. That's why you're here. But just for those who might not have seen the full extent of the Handforth Parish Council Planning and Environment Committee meeting that took place on Thursday 10th December 2020, let me explain.
Council meetings are usually the dullest form of human interaction. There's no reason why anyone would want to watch one they were not involved in or reporting on. Even then, they're tedious at best.
But this is no ordinary council meeting. This Zoom call, released into the public domain but only catapulted into virality two months later, is a work of art.
Everyone has become all too familiar with the technical glitches that come with video calls over the past year, especially when they involve people of an older generation. No offence, mum. And this call has plenty of them. But the real source of dynamite in this meeting, the crux of everything, is a fight for power.
First we have Jackie Weaver, stepping in to clerk a meeting, and from what we can gather, experienced in the field. Then we have the Handforth PC Clerk (or is he???).
As the call goes on, details unravel, mics are muted and unmuted, tensions build, a coup is staged, and seemingly nothing is achieved.
I watched the 'best bits' on YouTube (I'm not watching the full thing, I'm a very busy man), and documented my thoughts below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgGmYeAm0jk&%3Bfeature=emb_title&%3Bab_channel=StevenMorgan
- What is Roger Small doing turned away from his screen? Roger, ROGER. You're on. The call has begun.
- Who just mumbled 'Fuck off' literally four seconds into the call? What could have possibly happened to make them this angry, this early? I feel like there's a back story there and I want to hear it.
- When Jackie Weaver asks you to mute your microphone, you mute your microphone. For the love of God. None of them are even wearing headphones. This is going to be carnage.
- The levels of passive aggression in Handforth PC Clerk's jibe about being kicked out the previous meeting are palpable. What happened last time? Is he always like this?
- Peter Moore has a nice collection of guitars.
- They're arguing about who is the Clerk and who is the Proper Officer. What is the difference between a Clerk and a Proper Officer? Does it matter? Can we start the fucking meeting?
- Handforth PC clerk has huge supply teacher who has lost control of some rowdy year 10s energy when he shouts "WILL YOU STOP TALKING?!"
- I absolutely love the spelling of "Julie's I pad." No time for Apple's style guide and I respect it.
- However, Julie, please MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
- Barry Burkhill is literally facing away from the screen. Absolutely not arsed one bit.
https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1357652948659154945
https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1357655702588841984
