Dear Madam, - I was surprised by Councillor Farrell’s comments about the Study Visit to East Ayrshire and its cost to the ratepayers. Surprised because FODC was informed that the visit was fully funded out of the DoE’s capacity building programme budget.

I was also curious as to why Councillor Farrell didn’t raise his concerns about the visit when it was first agreed on January 14 or again on February 4 when the numbers for the visit was agreed.

It was only when I checked the minutes, to make sure no objections were raised at either of these meetings, did I notice that Councillor Farrell was present at neither meeting.

It is also interesting to note that six of Councillor Farrell’s UUP colleagues believed the Study Visit important enough to attend. A seventh UUP colleague had his name down for the visit but eventually didn’t go. That’s seven out of nine.

As mistakes in the planning process could be very costly to FODC and its ratepayers in the future, I believe every penny spent now in training and information gathering is money well invested.

Especially when that money has been supplied to the council for that very purpose. If Councillor Farrell had known a better way to spend that money on training it is a pity he didn’t attend the aforementioned meetings and let the rest of the Council know.

Yours faithfully, Councillor John Feely Erne North