HERE'S a good example of how councillors are thinking now that Brighton and Hove is going back to the committee system.

Council officials commissioned an independent report into the tragic child cruelty case, which ended this week with the jailing of Simon and Michelle McWilliam following the death of four-year-old John Smith while in their care.

Copies have been sent to every councillor. It makes a number of recommendations and many of them have already been put into effect.

Opposition Tory councillors are now calling for a scrutiny investigation into the case to be carried out by a board or special panel.

Haven't they read the report, which is clear and critical? It lists the mistakes made and says what should be done.

All the scrutiny investigation would achieve is duplication: An opportunity for politicians to say at great length what has been said already