Anger at Council’s Communication Strategy
You would think that one of the prime responsibilities for a council is to communicate with its residents and yet, at the Full Council Meeting of Runnymede Borough on 4th March 2021, a document was signed off by the Conversative administration that commits to minimal engagement with residents who live in Runnymede.
The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how the council will engage with residents and stakeholders during any review and update of the Local Borough plan. (The Borough Plan includes details of which areas in Runnymede have been allocated for housing).
"It seems unacceptable that the minimum communication involves methods that are only available to a few people in the borough." says Cllr. Sylvia Whyte, "this includes those who use social media and are able to navigate around the council's website. Apart from it being exclusive to those who operate on-line, the fundamental flaw is that you have to know that there is something to look for or at!"
Despite Cllr. Whyte raising the issue at a previous Planning Committee, the document sailed through with a huge majority. "I will not give up trying to improve the communication to residents and will raise this issue at every opportunity. It is wrong for residents to have huge planning developments thrust onto their doorsteps without their knowledge."
The Runnymede Liberal Democrats are committed to communicating regularly with local residents using newsletters and email to provide updates of Runnymede Borough Council issues and developments. We are also accessible to all residents providing monthly Surgeries so that there is a two-way dialogue about problems and issues.
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