All councils are required to consult with members of the public, in a variety of ways. Although we obviously cannot accede to every request, we are required to consider them, and respond promptly and courteously.
We believe we exceed the requirements for consulting and informing the public.
To that end we regularly operate the following:
Open Office time – 10-12 on Monday and Thursdays
Councillor Surgeries – last Wednesday of the month, 2pm -3 or (3.30) at the Old Bank, Market Square
Annual Open Meetings, in the Spring. At these we present a summary of Council activities and projects, as well as offering the opportunity for local groups to present displays and meet the Public. The next one is likely to coincide with the Annual Parish Meeting.
Public are welcome at our Full Council and Support Group meetings.
In the event of a major project by an outside organisation we offer time before our meetings for public presentations (e.g. with the Solar Farm)
Each edition of the TORC contains a summary of Council news from the last four months.
We have a facebook page which provides information and allows comments on Council posts, as well as providing another way to contact Council.
For certain issues (e.g. currently those dealing with the Common, WWI centenary commemoration and others) we encourage members of the Public to join Councillors on Working Groups to develop plans.
In addition we have consulted on other important issues over the last few years, notably the Beach Footpath, the Silica Sand proposals by NCC and, most recently, our Neighbourhood Plan (questionnaires and public meetings). The Office is in contact with many Village Groups, and we encourage them to use Council resources to promote their activities.
Should we fail to meet the standards expected by the Public, they have the right to complain – see elsewhere for details. Employees are bound by their contracts and relevant disciplinary procedures, and councillors by the Code of Conduct.
As well as encouraging parishioners to raise issues with us, Council believes it has a duty to respond to consultation by outside bodies. Over time, we will add the correspondence we have had on matters such as boundary reviews, Wash Flood Defence funding, silica sand proposals, changes to policing and other important matters.
