Agenda item

This report sets out the Council’s progress in delivering the Transformation and Communication portfolio.

Members considered the Transformation & Communications Portfolio Holder update.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Hay noted that press releases are shared with some local magazines and asked why Centrepoint is not included as this is published in Chatteris quarterly. Councillor Tierney said the more ways to communicate the better and this magazine can certainly be added to the list. Councillor Hay thanked Councillor Tierney and said she would forward the contact details.

·         Councillor Mason commented on the Whittlesey Neighbourhood Plan. A lot of work went into the plan over five years and at the beginning there was quite a degree of public consultation. The draft was a very worthwhile document, but he wondered if it would have been more beneficial at the end to have another consultation just to outline what the final draft was before holding a referendum on it. He had a lot of people comment that they did not know what the plan was in its final form, and they found it difficult to access the information. Therefore, for future benefit, maybe there should be a consultation at the end of the process. Councillor Laws said she did not disagree; unfortunately, Whittlesey Library directed some people to Fenland’s Local Plan instead of the Neighbourhood Plan which caused additional confusion and she was also approached by some people because they did not understand what a neighbourhood plan would deliver. It had been promoted well and publicised quite widely as to where people could find that information, but some would say it had not been publicised enough. It was unfortunate that we did miss the publication dates for two free Whittlesey magazines, but this was due to the dates being changed for Christmas. If the article she had written had been published in those there would not have been so many enquiries. However, with the Neighbourhood Plan it would not be the responsibility of FDC to consult but that of the parish or town council. There is something to be learned from that and maybe it is a suggestion that should be put forward to Wimblington, who are currently pursuing a neighbourhood plan, that they hold that consultation and viewing period before a referendum, however we did the best we could.

·         Councillor Tierney said it is important to understand the responsibility of different councils. This is Overview and Scrutiny for Fenland District Council but the neighbourhood plan is brought forward by the town council so we cannot be involved with the consultation of any kind, that is the for the town council to do but as a partner it is important to help promote, and we did everything we could. Anything to be learned needs to go to the town council.  

·         Councillor Laws commented on the negative aspects of social media that also led people to be misinformed regarding the plan and possibly encouraged them to vote against it. Councillor Miscandlon agreed and said that the district plan needs to be explained to the public in clear terms but as we get nearer to approval of the plan we also need to stop or manage the misinformation that is likely to come out on social media. Councillor Laws agreed and added that is correct in terms of social media, but we also need to educate the libraries; we should not give them paperwork for the public to view but to provide a briefing sheet to give them a greater understanding, there are some lessons to be learned here.

·         Councillor Tierney said that the Plan was placed on the front page of the FDC website to make it as visible as possible. Furthermore, he agreed with Councillor Miscandlon about making things clearer; he is passionate about removing jargon and the use of plain English and he requested that if anyone spots anything that they feel should be made clearer, then please let him know. He would welcome Overview & Scrutiny input into any official or draft version of a document going forward.

·         Councillor Mason said he was very impressed with how transformation is taking place and how it has become simplified over the last few years and congratulated Councillor Tierney.

·         Councillor Laws added that she would like to thank Emma Nasta in the Planning Team for helping to produce a validation document in simple English that all can understand in place of the previous document which would be the worst example of jargon and gobbledegook that she could think of.

The Transformation & Communications Portfolio Holder update was noted for information.