Making it easier to hear and be heard
THE pace of change is becoming faster, and people have higher expectations of it being easy to access information and answers – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
That is why two-way communication between the Council and residents and other service users has never been more important.
As a local authority, we also have a duty to explain ever more clearly what we are trying to achieve as a Council, and to get feedback from residents as to how we can improve services.
As part of recent changes to the Council Executive structure, the emphasis on Communications was increased by creating a Deputy Executive Member responsible directly to the Leader.
The aim is to ensure that this important area gets the focus it deserves and needs. I have taken on the role, having previously been responsible for Customer Service on the Executive.
I have always been very keen on ensuring people understand what we are doing to make the Borough a great place to live and work. At the same time, it is vital that we help Council Tax payers understand the pressures we face when developing and delivering the services we all need from the Council.
From the day-to-day to long-term changes to services, it’s important that our local residents are not just aware of what is happening, but also feel a part of the decisionmaking.
The Council must be both responsible in how it maintains and improves your local services, but also responsive to your needs and your concerns.
To take an everyday example, people need to get advance warning of disruptions which may be caused by new roadworks to allow them to re-plan journeys, or even feedback problems with planned works before they start.
My mission is to work closely with the Executive and the Council officers to improve our use of communication opportunities: from our regular Borough News magazine to social media, The Wokingham Paper, hoardings on new developments and road signs – all to ensure people are better informed, able to ask questions and have their say.
I am a regular user of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, both for posting news and answering questions from across the borough (and sometimes beyond!) and I want to encourage others to do the same.
I would welcome feedback from you on how we could improve our communications further.
Please email me at pauline. jorgensen@wokingham.gov.uk or find me on Facebook @paulinejorgensen or Twitter @cllrpauline