Black Hole at Town Council Offices...?

Something I've noticed that a number of Hedge End residents have said recently, is that they haven't received a reply from the Town Council Offices after writing to them.

It is not just once that it has been said. Different people have volunteered that thought of their own accord, completely independently of each other and in different circumstances. There is a clear hint that something is wrong, buzzing around the Town.

I have to say now, that my experience of communicating with the Town Council is generally very positive. But they know me of course and they know that I write a lot, including for Eastleigh News. There are however a couple of little exceptions to that general rule, which support what I've heard other residents say.

I've emailed the Town Council on a number of occasions recently and have generally received a full and prompt reply. I've been very pleased overall, but there was one notable exception. I offered to help with adding some new material to the Hedge End Town Council website, but am still waiting for a reply to that particular message. I haven't noticed that particular item of correspondence being raised in Council meetings either, but perhaps I missed it.

I did see some of my other correspondence being summarised at a recent Town Council meeting. I can see why summarising might be necessary, but I felt that one of the key points that I made had been completely lost in the summary. What was reported back to the Councillors was only part of what I had written. My message hadn't been passed to the Councillors in its entirety. If I hadn't attended the meeting I wouldn't have known. I would have assumed that my correspondence had been passed-on in full.

It isn't a huge problem as I'll raise the point again, in another way on another day, but I would have preferred that my correspondence was summarised a little more completely.

So what can be done...?

Well having tested the system and noted a problem, I would like the chance to address it.

IF I am returned as an Independent Town Councillor on 1st March, do feel at liberty to keep me informed of any correspondence that you are having with the Town Council. That offer applies whichever part of Hedge End you come from: it is not exclusive to Shamblehurst ward. If I know what you are saying to the Town Council Offices, I can monitor whether it is being dealt with properly. I can particularly monitor whether it is being summarised correctly in Council meetings. I would have the opportunity to stop some of the important points that you raise from being lost.

You could do this with any of the Town Councillors actually, liaising with whoever you feel most comfortable with, but if writing to an Independent Town Councillor you can be sure that matters will not be dropped into that black hole because they are inconvenient, at odds with the party line.

Independent Town Councillors do not represent any political party.

Independent Town Councillors represent the people of Hedge End. 


Thank you for reading.

Ray Turner
http://www.facebook.com/hedgeendindependents