We are told Brighton and Hove City Council would like more public involvement in civic issues. But what do we find?

This Monday, very shortly before it was due to be held, a public notice went up at Hove Town Hall to announce a policy and resources "urgency" committee meeting about ACE and the troubled Brighton Dome.

Those of us who went along to observe from the public gallery were promptly turfed out by council leader Ken Bodfish so the discussion could be secret.

Another such meeting was held, with similar lack of notice, just before the recent full council meeting.

The minutes of that urgency committee make no reference to the second part of it, which concerned the West Pier and the probable sell-off of the old boating lake on the Lower Promenade to a commercial developer.

These urgency meetings are a means of sneaking crucial matters past the Press and the public.

I am in the habit of telling people there are many councillors, of all parties, whom it is well worth approaching to discuss matters which concern our community but this "urgency" sleight of hand convinces me I am right to say Councillor Bodfish is not one of them, despite his claim at June's full council meeting that he supports "open and transparent local government".

And so Coun Bodfish leaves many readers wondering who ACE can be and why its letter to the council is a matter for urgent discussion.

-Christopher Hawtree, Westbourne Gardens, Hove