Such decisions can be taken only in committee meetings, which may result in difficulties for members of the public or for external organisations if the decision to meet in private has not been taken in advance of the meeting at which the particular topic is under discussion.We cannot show on the agenda that the item is definitely to be taken in private in the absence of such a decision, although we can give pretty clear indicators—as occurred in relation to item 1 of the Procedures Committee's agenda today—that the committee will at least consider whether to take an agenda item in private.The paper suggests merely that committees should try to minimise that potential inconvenience by good forward planning...