AN insight into the workings of Monmouthshire County Council in its final days at County Hall which was screened by BBC Wales on Monday has been greeted with muted enthusiasm by councillors

Despite comments that the documentary had focused more on issues surrounding the personalisation of desks and MCC's choice of carpet, council leader, Councillor Peter Fox said he still felt it depicted a council rising to its challenges.

The BBC documentary 'Carrying On At The Council' looked at diverse topics from how the authority is handling the current economic pressures and its move to a new headquarters to whether or not staff should be allowed to keep personal items - like a plastic pigeon - on their desks.  

The 'Week In Week Out' crew spent seven months at the authority's crumbling headquarters and was given unfettered access to all areas of the council's operations, including social services.

Councillor Peter Fox, leader of Monmouthshire County Council was filmed on his farm in Portskewett and in the council chambers said, "This was a good documentary, which showed Monmouthshire County Council and local government as a whole in a very good light.  

"I personally would have liked to see more about how we are leading the way in Wales in new working practices, greater flexibility and budgetary responsibility.  

"But I have to say that anybody who watched that programme would have seen a council that's fully rising to the challenge of reduced budgets, greater demand on services and the move to a new temporary building in Magor."

He added: "It's easy for some people to criticise public servants.  But last night we saw council officers out gritting roads at all hours, protecting our most vulnerable people, improving our schools, helping business and finding ways to make limited funds go further.  

"We all saw that in the programme, but I and the people of Monmouthshire see it every day and I'm sure they'll join me in thanking all the people that work tirelessly to deliver great public services."