WORCESTER City Council members were treated to an illuminating presentation on mediation recently, writes Owen Fairclough.
The county's mediation service aims to stop "neighbours from hell" problems developing and has had 87 requests for assistance this year alone.
The charity's boss Ken Alcock explained how the service could stop some nasty bust-ups before it was too late.
But the irony of it all appeared to be completely lost on members of the policy and resources committee, who stared into their laps, nodded sagely and agreed mediation was well worth investing in.
It was up to an incredulous Coun Richard Bird, sitting next to me, to point out the obvious when he said: I think some of this lot could do with mediation.
Sure enough, within minutes of Mr Alcock's presentation, Tory and Labour were trading insults once again over budget cuts, each other's maths and the like.
Mr Alcock's staff could mine a rich seam in the Guildhall if ever business looks slack.
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