Last year saw a massive assault on public speaking by Tory councillors, particularly Councillor Ray Bloxham (a man not known for using one word when 100 will do the job!).  This post from Claire Wright’s blog sums up this issue which led to a reduction in people allowed to speak, at planning meetings in particular, and an increase in bureaucratic red tape to gain permission to speak which would daunt most potential speakers:

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/restrictions_imposed_on_public_questions_at_eddc/