I have lived in Brighton for 34 years and for the first time I went to last week's council meeting and sat in the public gallery. What an other-worldly experience it was.

In a question to the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Ken Bodfish, a member of the public asked that all questions and answers should be recorded verbatim for the benefit of future generations.

Councillor Bodfish politely said "No" - or at least I think he did. Another member of the public asked a question about "plonkers" and "whingers".

I couldn't believe my ears. Is this what the council chamber is for - an arena for ridiculous questions and time-wasting?

Then there was the rant by Councillor Keith Taylor, the leader of the Green Party.

The mayor asked party leaders to make short statements about Norman Cook's beach party and Coun Taylor set about the most disgraceful attack on the party, its organisers, the council and, by implication, the party-goers - all the while jingling his beach bucket. It was appalling. It was cheap.

I used to have some respect for the Green Party and what it stood for but before Coun Taylor can save planet Earth he had better land on it first.

As someone who lives in the city centre, I could not identify with his wild accusations and description of that night. It was not my experience.

It appears the Greens have become a bunch of zealous puritans and killjoys. They oppose the new football stadium and the beach party.

I expect they will be looking for ways of condemning the upcoming Pride march and every other outdoor celebratory event that so many city-dwellers and visitors enjoy - especially young people.

I agree with the other party leaders, who all said to varying degrees that lessons had to be learnt from the experience.

Of course they have but I hope that does not mean the council will take fright and not organise or permit future events.

I shan't be attending any more council meetings. Once was enough.

-Tom Shankly, Charlotte Street, Brighton