The 14th Feb was "Sudbury on Show" in the Town Hall and St Peter's Church on the Market Hill. If you are not aware of the concept it is a chance for all community and voluntary organisations to promote their activities, to network and find new members. It is also a chance for everyone to just see the wide range of activities our community offers.
A smaller version is run at the 2 Upper schools for a morning the same week.
Everyone gets a stand and a directory of contact details is published and the event is done on a bi annual cycle run by the Town Council.
It was the brainchild of (Lord) Andrew Phillips and started in 2003 when I did my first Mayoral stint. It is superb that 6 years later we were onto the 4th event with over 100 stands.
I spent all day on the Lib Dem stand. We got an excellent response to our Poll on which site should be chosen for the Town's new health facility. Cynics in public bodies often treat consultation with contempt seeing it as a threat to their power or scared of public choices if they are given power to chose.
All I can say, is that the choice of site is difficult but the the 100+ residents who completed it took their time and we had some excellent discussions on the merits and disadvantages of a range of sites. And people appreciated the chance to have their voice. Lets be honest the PCT (Primary Care Trust) are not going to ask residents.
People see through consultation when it is a foregone conclusion but value the chance to influence a decision even if their own choice is not taken up.
People want to partake in local democracy but only if they feel they will be listened to, why bother if the decision makers have already given you the view theirminds are made up!???
The result: Church Field Road 51.5%, Walnuttree 41% and St Leonards 7.5%.
Finally there was an enormous relief that Babergh had rejected Belle Vue House and land next to the Park. Now what should happen there? Another post, another time.
A smaller version is run at the 2 Upper schools for a morning the same week.
Everyone gets a stand and a directory of contact details is published and the event is done on a bi annual cycle run by the Town Council.
It was the brainchild of (Lord) Andrew Phillips and started in 2003 when I did my first Mayoral stint. It is superb that 6 years later we were onto the 4th event with over 100 stands.
I spent all day on the Lib Dem stand. We got an excellent response to our Poll on which site should be chosen for the Town's new health facility. Cynics in public bodies often treat consultation with contempt seeing it as a threat to their power or scared of public choices if they are given power to chose.
All I can say, is that the choice of site is difficult but the the 100+ residents who completed it took their time and we had some excellent discussions on the merits and disadvantages of a range of sites. And people appreciated the chance to have their voice. Lets be honest the PCT (Primary Care Trust) are not going to ask residents.
People see through consultation when it is a foregone conclusion but value the chance to influence a decision even if their own choice is not taken up.
People want to partake in local democracy but only if they feel they will be listened to, why bother if the decision makers have already given you the view theirminds are made up!???
The result: Church Field Road 51.5%, Walnuttree 41% and St Leonards 7.5%.
Finally there was an enormous relief that Babergh had rejected Belle Vue House and land next to the Park. Now what should happen there? Another post, another time.
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