Town Forum?, Engaging the likes of us! Options

[On the edge]

A common theme running through these threads is the perceived lack of engagement / consultation / communication between the Council(s) and us - the public. There are, of course, the normal formal channels. However, the perception remains.

Simply to see if there is any appitite for trying something new - what about using the Town Hall as an 'open forum' - every Saturday. Where few stands could be put up, and a few officers /councillors could be around to answer questions / take observations on any of the 'topics of the day'. That would include upcoming development proposals etc.

Could also have a couple of 'desks'' for Groups wanting to promote single activity / issue community efforts. In effect, a big extension of the Town Councillor on the steps - but more to seek opinion, give answers.

Appreciate this would cost officer time. Equally, we have this 'Forum' - but its not the same as an in your face at the Market Place.

Who knows - we could start a trend!

[Jayjay]

A common theme running through these threads is the perceived lack of engagement / consultation / communication between the Council(s) and us - the public. There are, of course, the normal formal channels. However, the perception remains.

Simply to see if there is any appitite for trying something new - what about using the Town Hall as an 'open forum' - every Saturday. Where few stands could be put up, and a few officers /councillors could be around to answer questions / take observations on any of the 'topics of the day'. That would include upcoming development proposals etc.

Could also have a couple of 'desks'' for Groups wanting to promote single activity / issue community efforts. In effect, a big extension of the Town Councillor on the steps - but more to seek opinion, give answers.

Appreciate this would cost officer time. Equally, we have this 'Forum' - but its not the same as an in your face at the Market Place.

Who knows - we could start a trend!

Councillors are on the town hall steps most saturday mornings.

[Strafin]

I actually think councillors do quite a lot to engage with people, the people just don't want to go and hunt them out.

[user23]

Doesn't some of this already happen on a Saturday morning?

You should pop down to the steps of the Town Hall in the Market Place and see what goes on.

[On the edge]

Councillors are on the town hall steps most saturday mornings.

As I suggested - this would extend and expand that. The Councillors 'on the steps' are just Newbury Town and there is no real structure to what they are doing. (NOTE that is NOT a criticisim). This suggestion could assist in focussing attention. Similarly, it could help widen the involvement, from simply a chat on the steps.

[On the edge]

Doesn't some of this already happen on a Saturday morning?

You should pop down to the steps of the Town Hall in the Market Place and see what goes on.

Have been several times and know exactly what happens. It is a verey (and necessary) reactive approach; people come up with their moans and groans. Nothing wrong witrh that at all but this is about teasing out thoughts plus dare I say it ideas and suggestions.

[On the edge]

I actually think councillors do quite a lot to engage with people, the people just don't want to go and hunt them out.

That's true, the Councillors do try, hence the sessions on the steps. However, if the people don't want to hunt them out - they can hardly complain that they haven't been consulted or asked about new developments etc.

[lordtup]

One of the problems with dealing with local officials is that most of the criticism is retrospective . In other words we harangue them over deals done not ones that are on the table .Now if we have a plebiscite every time a piece of planning comes up for approval we will still be using horse and carts .
Before you say it, I am no supporter of town councillors per se, but someone has to make decisions on a daily basis and thankfully it's not me.

[user23]

As I suggested - this would extend and expand that. The Councillors 'on the steps' are just Newbury Town and there is no real structure to what they are doing. (NOTE that is NOT a criticisim). This suggestion could assist in focussing attention. Similarly, it could help widen the involvement, from simply a chat on the steps.

Wouldn't adding more formality and therefore bureaucracy to the occasion take away from the simplicity of being able to walk up and chat to your Councillor?

[Simon Kirby]

That's true, the Councillors do try, hence the sessions on the steps. However, if the people don't want to hunt them out - they can hardly complain that they haven't been consulted or asked about new developments etc.

I took my complaint to the town hall steps several years ago and spoke variously to three different councillors. Each did absolutely nothing. Zip. Utterly pointless exercise. The one element of your suggestion that has merit is making the town hall steps the place for protest, and I've done that too, and I've posted the secret gagging clause the Council tried to use to suppress this form of legitimate civil protest. It's a free society and there's nothing stopping anyone standing outside the Town Hall on a Saturday morning, just don't involve the Town Council, and be prepared to be victimised.

[Jayjay]

I took my complaint to the town hall steps several years ago and spoke variously to three different councillors. Each did absolutely nothing. Zip. Utterly pointless exercise. The one element of your suggestion that has merit is making the town hall steps the place for protest, and I've done that too, and I've posted the secret gagging clause the Council tried to use to suppress this form of legitimate civil protest. It's a free society and there's nothing stopping anyone standing outside the Town Hall on a Saturday morning, just don't involve the Town Council, and be prepared to be victimised.

In fairness there are some things councillors can do nothing about. People are still approaching them complaining of Parkway for instance, it is a done deal and cannot be undone. Accept that your complaint may not have come under this criteria, but it did give an opportunity to get your views across. I cannot think of a better way for councillors to engage with us on an ad hoc basis, just a pity it is not advertised more.

[Andy Capp]

I'd rather it was on an Internet forum, but our councillors too gutless for that.

[John C]

As said before that is only NTC Saturday mornings not WBC and you can be assured that you will listened to and if its not what town council want to do you will be ignored

[Jayjay]

I'd rather it was on an Internet forum, but our councillors too gutless for that.

That would be ideal but we get regular trolls on this forum, imagine how many would be on a councillors forum.

[On the edge]

I'd rather it was on an Internet forum, but our councillors too gutless for that.

Think it is us being gutless - very few use real names. Must admit, I don't either and the reason for that arose because 'in another place' I did and then had some shall we say rather pointed and personal remarks make by a local town councillor.

Having seen and actually been part of what has happened elsewhere; I'm not convinced Newbury wants real debate, let alone involvement. My view, for what its worth, is that its down to demographics - influenced by the massive 'civil service' employment round here, so we've lost the art of thinking and doing for ourselves.

[Andy Capp]

That would be ideal but we get regular trolls on this forum, imagine how many would be on a councillors forum.

Think it is us being gutless - very few use real names. Must admit, I don't either and the reason for that arose because 'in another place' I did and then had some shall we say rather pointed and personal remarks make by a local town councillor.

Having seen and actually been part of what has happened elsewhere; I'm not convinced Newbury wants real debate, let alone involvement. My view, for what its worth, is that its down to demographics - influenced by the massive 'civil service' employment round here, so we've lost the art of thinking and doing for ourselves.

I'd make it a condition of engagement; a separate forum. Abuse could be moderated.

[Cognosco]

Think it is us being gutless - very few use real names. Must admit, I don't either and the reason for that arose because 'in another place' I did and then had some shall we say rather pointed and personal remarks make by a local town councillor.

Having seen and actually been part of what has happened elsewhere; I'm not convinced Newbury wants real debate, let alone involvement. My view, for what its worth, is that its down to demographics - influenced by the massive 'civil service' employment round here, so we've lost the art of thinking and doing for ourselves.

Spoke to a couple of Councillors on the town hall steps, wrote official letters, requested information under the freedom of information act? Still never got an answer to the questions posed. So unfortunately I do not believe this suggestion would work. Lets face it most proposals are discussed and decided long before anything is made available to the public. The only reason the council finally refers anything, to a limited amount of the public, it's so they can tick the box that states consultation took place. And before the councils spokesmen pop up in defense give me one example of when the council has backed down or given reasons why they will not change their minds on any project when the public majority were against it?

[On the edge]

I'd make it a condition of engagement; a separate forum. Abuse could be moderated.

Some years back WBC did run a moderated forum - didn't work!

[On the edge]

Spoke to a couple of Councillors on the town hall steps, wrote official letters, requested information under the freedom of information act? Still never got an answer to the questions posed. So unfortunately I do not believe this suggestion would work. Lets face it most proposals are discussed and decided long before anything is made available to the public. The only reason the council finally refers anything, to a limited amount of the public, it's so they can tick the box that states consultation took place. And before the councils spokesmen pop up in defense give me one example of when the council has backed down or given reasons why they will not change their minds on any project when the public majority were against it?

May be some thing in this. After all, we used to have regular WBC Forums. Very, very few non Councillors ever turned up, apart from whenever there was a localised planning issue. All questions got a standard scripted response.

Any other bright ideas, or do we just carry on grumbling? At least that's the British way!

[Jayjay]

Spoke to a couple of Councillors on the town hall steps, wrote official letters, requested information under the freedom of information act? Still never got an answer to the questions posed. So unfortunately I do not believe this suggestion would work. Lets face it most proposals are discussed and decided long before anything is made available to the public. The only reason the council finally refers anything, to a limited amount of the public, it's so they can tick the box that states consultation took place. And before the councils spokesmen pop up in defense give me one example of when the council has backed down or given reasons why they will not change their minds on any project when the public majority were against it?

Well hopefully it will be the pigeon loft in the park, which has gone very quiet of late.