AS I write, you read and the dog licks itself, somewhere in Yorkshire there's a politician and local authority officer discussing how Yorkshire will be run in the future.

From what I can gather, and although I've written a few articles on the subject it's all still a bit hazy, the Government wants to hand over money to the English regions for them to spend on things like new roads and stuff. There's no any extra money so it would just be the regions spending the same money, but getting to choose what on.

What's agitated me sufficiently to dedicate a whole column to the subject is this: If the regions want to control the money themselves – and they really, really do, apparently – they have to send in their ideas, possibly on a postcard, by September 4. That's today. The chances are they've posted off their plans before a lot of people even knew plans were being scribbled down.

I get that we vote in our politicians to make decisions for us, but these aren't poxy, little decisions. Can Mr Smith down the road build an extension so his elderly mother-in-law can be moved out of the front room. Should the dog warden be equipped with night vision goggles for dark winter mornings.

These are great big decisions. Should we have an elected mayor? Should we join forces with the East Riding and outrageously flirt with Hull so they join our party too? Perhaps we should go it alone. Maybe we should hold out for the Great Yorkshire devolution bid which is favoured by some.

Who knows. I don't. But then I haven't read a consultation document. I haven't had the opportunity to sit in a council meeting for hours on end listening to elected members talk in monosyllabic droney voices on the subject.

Maybe a referendum is asking too much but if Vodafone can send me half a dozen texts asking for my opinions on a 30-second phone call to change my mobile tariff, the least we could get on the devolution plans is a hastily arranged public meeting in a cold village hall somewhere.

I'm not saying I'd go, but I'd like the option.