Meanwhile the grown-up issues were outside in the form of a number of largely elderly protesters who desperately wanted to retain there sheltered housing wardens. They were denied access to the ‘public gallery’ as it was full of invited guests.

Having been duly installed as Mayor, Coleman set about the destruction of his opponents in a manner more reminiscent of Davros than the Doctor. First up, where Barnet’s bloggers. We were told that he would not tolerate their attempts to bring down Barnet’s civic dignity (or words to that effect as we can’t listen to his speech as Barnet don’t publish Council meetings on the web). My view is that it is not Barnet’s bloggers that are the danger to local democracy, but rather the clinging to outmoded protocol that prevents valid criticism of both the system and the people running that system.

More attacks were coming in the form of the revised Scrutiny arrangements which contain a clause that severely restricts the items that a Councillor can call in for Scrutiny. Lib Dem group leader Jack Cohen’s attempt to overturn this was voted down by the massed ranks of robed Tories. Maybe those robes contain some form of mind control? Maybe there is a new device cunningly fitted in the almost refurbished Hendon Town Hall? Or maybe not!