Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
SarahP, you are correct in that there is no right to reply but a good question could certainly spark off an interesting debate among the councillors which can then be followed up. I agree with Keith (this is getting to be a habit - help) that there are many ways of meeting your councillors. I often speak to people and listen to their concerns on buses, in the street, while at the local school, over the phone or internet and around the town, however I certainly feel that it could be convenient for them if I were in a set place on a regular basis so that people could drop in while out shopping or just so that they know where to find me. The office strikes me as a good location because it is in the town and I would have so much more information to hand.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
We are going to hold Surgeries in Tower Hamlets but the problem for me is as I work shifts around the clock it is difficult for me to find a regular day or time,I have attended Tower Hamlets Forum when ever they are held.
Sarah you know me as I work at the Train Station,where if anyone who wants to can ask me questions,public duties allowing although my Boss doesnt like it much but it is always happening.We also have regular walks in areas of our ward,and like Roger deal with e-mails phonecalls and being stopped in the Town often.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
A town Council,is a parish council,as you know I sit on four Parish councils,My Surgery is my home ,my phone,my PC and if anyone wishs to talk to me they are open 24/7 so I would not hold a surgery as such,because it is alot better the way I am doing it now.
All of the ways listed sound fantastic and really sensible ways of interacting with voters. However the thread started with an announcement of a surgery AFTER it had happened. The question was then put. Do you think more people might have attended if it had been announced on the forum BEFORE it was held. ? Which still hasn't been answered. Maybe it never will.
Guest 676- Registered: 1 Jul 2008
- Posts: 521
Sarah
It depends on how many people from the area read this forum. How many of these people have questions to ask their councillors.
Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Perhaps it is in the opportunity to ask rather than the question itself that equality lies. SarahP rightly returns us to the original: yes, all those ways of engaging with voters are good, and it is nice to know they are happening. they probably capture quite a bit more than a surgery - but a surgery along with those ways are tools in the box and ways to manage and audit the councillors and hold them accountable. I understand JHGs work commitments, and I would not suggest that a surgery is the only way to do it, but I am genuinely dismayed that it is such an unaccountable area and that surgeries are not valued. Chris has a good idea: hold them centrally with info handy. And publicise them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True stewart but in that case, if its of unkown value , why post that a surgery had been held ? If its was valid method of promoting the event AFTER the fact then surely its a valid method BEFORE the event ?
spot on Bern
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
looking at all the posts it seems that set surgeries are out of the question for many councillors due to working arrangements.
i think that the safest bet is to notedown your councillors home phone number and ring then at a convenient time.
3 a.m. seems reasonable.
Howard thats really naughty
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
LOL Howard. 4.17am call to ask "When is Burlington House coming down?".
Or when is your next surgery ?
Guest 676- Registered: 1 Jul 2008
- Posts: 521
Like othe councillors I can be contacted 24/7 you can get me on my mobile phone, there is also email. my landline, here on the forum, f/b, linkedin, Castle Forun, in person. How many more ways? I will add them, so you can contact me.
If the residents of Dover (Castle Ward) want me to hold a surgery, if it works I will do it.
How more open do you want me to be?
Million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Still waiting for an answer to the original question
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
Sarah, sadly I think #13 answers the question.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Mr Jim Hood...
Town and Pier Ward...
Is he still around, and does he hold Surgeries?
mr mcsweeney pointed me towards the web-site of DoverDistrict Council......Councillors etc..
a very good read...
Members Allowances .....I had a mental note on who would be the highest on claims.....I past the test!!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
mr norman,in answer to your question about mr j.hood,is yes he is still about and not that i know of.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Thats easy for me,I along with all the other parish cllrs,apart from the Town cllrs,we get nothing and do not want it anyway.
Stewart, I don't think this thread is an unrestrained criticism of councillors, more a plea for perhaps a more accessible and imaginative way of operating. You clearly open yourself up to your voters, and that's great. Many people will fail to contact you directly because either they don't know how, or are shy of doing it. Often the people most in need are the last to shout. And perhaps we shouldn't only contact councillors when we have problems - that way councillors only see their voters in crisis!
And to go back to the original post - it is more, perhaps, about being made aware of events and contacts before the event, as SarahP said.I suppose I think it is about accountability and accessibility.
J. Munt and J Hood....
Councillors for the Town etc....
Never hear anything from or about them
Really this is not criticism.....but questioning the fact, that Dover is horrendous at the moment....and every Councillor should be aware of this....completely...like a Doctor is made aware of acute and cronic illnesses...
Mr Matcham, you are on and with every committee known to man....and at your biblical three score years and ten....good luck and respect to you.....however, with or without pay...............I see the situation in Dover as awful, and unless a Saviour comes along like Roger de Haan.......who has pulled Folkestone up and away................a Hamlet we are going to be, with a Motorway and Lorry Park bussling everybody by......................