Debate night does clash with Hollyoaks, I'm not going to lie, but the antics of Labour versus Lib Dem in the civic centre are superb entertainment. Last night we had a delegation from China watching events. I'm pretty sure they'll be rethinking the whole communist thing after last night's delights.

Mayor Geoff O'Brien has improved the feel of the night with his superb stewarding of debates. And as he rightly pointed out after some 20 of questions to cabinet members, there is a healthy and entertaining exchange of views here.
"Maybe word will get out through the press and other media that about what we are doing here, and we might actually get some people in the public gallery," he said.

No one attends these things for fun, although it is. Instead the back seats are full of would-be politicians, school pupils on a trips and never more than one regional affairs correspondent.
How to fix democracy? Well, for time reasons the council has to leave the debates (read rows) to the end, so it can get through the actual business of approving reports etc.
But since the Lib Dems have moved to opposition they have ceased the practice of making written questions and instead pitch them to the council member concerned on the night. The result is pure glee for politics nerds. If this section was brought forward to happen in the 1 hour section that students are obliged to watch, they might actually take an interest in future. Or maybe not.