| Topic: | Re:Re:Residents launch LBH Watch | |
| Posted by: | Nick Marbrow | |
| Date/Time: | 05/08/10 20:02:00 |
| Adam, As a fully paid-up member of Joe Public, I am part of a very diverse group of people many of whom do understand that there is national legislation underpinning local government policies. However decisions are often taken, particularly in respect of planning, based on subjective opinion. The use of “no material harm is being caused” and “enforcement action is not considered expedient” leave the impression that decisions may be taken based on administrative convenience rather than impartial application of planning rules. It is my experience that Officers generally do not feel it necessary to explain to the public why their subjective opinion is the only one that matters. This leaves borough residents looking for a reason why the rules have been ignored. What can we put this down to? Your interpretation of LBH Watch as "we think Officers are dodgy and we're out to get you" – is over the top. Perhaps “we think Officers are not good at engaging with the public, and we would like to be treated like the customers that we are” might be more appropriate. I would not suggest that Officers are “blind, naive or out of touch”, but my experience is that they often lack “helicopter vision”, and are unwilling to look at the issue from the other side of the table. If transparency is to be the way forward for local government, then I think LBH has a long way to go. |