BLEARY eyes all round, Worcester City Council’s assorted politicians pulled off a rare feat this week by keeping us waiting until nearly 1am to finally approve the 2014/15 budget.

But as anyone there to witness Tuesday night’s marathon six-hour shenanigans can testify, it was a minor miracle it was put to bed at all, such was the endless political grandstanding, speeches that ran to nowhere, kindergarten-like rowing and all-round bitterness in the air.

But amid the good old-fashioned Labour and Conservative clashes was plenty of councillor humour which deserves special mention.

Full marks, therefore, to Lib Dem Ken Carpenter, who yelled “only a lunatic would charge for Waterworks Road car park” (the cabinet he voted in suggested it), Tory Roger Knight, who with a straight face told Labour they’d “reschedule to filth” if they attempted to cut street-sweeping rounds (I wouldn’t bother googling that, councillors) and finally fellow Conservative Andy Roberts who said Labour was acting “a bit like a dodgy carpet salesman” by putting up council tax (the county council, which he also belongs to, is doing likewise).

Cllr Carpenter then stood up, dictionary in hand, to tell the room he'd found a description in it for commissioning, "an act of committing a sin or crime". Blimey.

Many people who don’t know a thing about council meetings would think they tend to be rather dull.

Come to Worcester – it’s quite the opposite.

* IF a councillor’s mobile phone goes off during live meetings, they are immediately marked out as a daft ‘un by colleagues, such is this error frowned upon in the corridors of power.

It’s the local government equivalent of turning up punch drunk for Sunday Service in your local church, a fate deemed worse than even waking up a Liberal Democrat.

Spare a thought then, for Councillor Aubrey Tarbuck, whose mobile went off very, very loudly three times during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Aubrey clearly hadn’t a clue how to operate the device, instead opting to let it ring out the first time (worse than attacking the church vicar), walk out the chamber the second time (nearly missing a crucial vote), and then finally, desperately ask managing director Duncan Sharkey to turn it on silent for him the third time.

Own up, fellas. Who gave this bloke a mobile?

* PHONE lines and internet access at the city council seems to be collapsing on an all-too regular basis, causing mild panic among our politicians and sometimes, the staff.

Only this week Councillor Alan Amos decided to rip into BT for it, standing up in a meeting to call it “appalling”.

Lo and behold, only a few hours after his exasperated words, the phone lines went down again on Wednesday. It’s like the 17th century plus Twitter.

There doesn't seem to be an explanation for why BT keeps on causing the city council these problems. Perhaps they had to endure Tuesday's meeting too?