A motion calling on Ventnor Town Council to improve its engagement with the local community through the use of social media was rejected for debate at Monday’s council meeting after the Mayor and Town Clerk ruled it to be “improper”.
Councillor Ian Bond submitted the motion in advance of the meeting, but it was rejected for the agenda.
Cllr Bond was recommending that the council should encourage councillors to use social media to engage with residents, as well as develop a Community Engagement Strategy to better involve residents of the town in its decision-making.
Challenging the ruling at the meeting, Cllr Bond said:
“Excluding a motion from a member is not a small thing; it’s a really big thing. Tabling a motion is one of the fundamental rights we have as a member, and we have that right whether the council likes the motions we write or not”.
Responding, Mayor Steph Toogood said that the motion was rejected, stating there was more to it than actually met the eye and that there was more that needed to be discussed. She also said that it probably wasn’t the right thing to be putting to the council at this time.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Ian Bond said:
“Rejecting my motion on such flimsy grounds is very disappointing. I believe from discussions with colleagues that it would have been supported by many of my fellow councillors.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is particularly disappointing since in so many respects Ventnor has a good record of engaging with the community, but this ends when it comes to its own decision-making.
“The Council often seems to prefer dealing with issues behind closed doors, and its management apparently fears having its councillors asking residents for their views. I don’t believe this is how a modern town or parish council should be run”.
The meeting can be viewed below:
Yes it probably would help if they engage effectively with each other first.
I agonised, but in the end didn’t add it to my YouTube favs.
How can they not engage with residents who are affected by decisions. Town and parish councils are a law to them selves run by middle class over paid twits who only think of themselves and friends. Look at Bembridge !
They rejected so they don’t get found out on the dodgy deals they get up too
Sir, sir, the peasants are revolting!
Yes indeed, filthy unwashed lowlifes…
Sir, the peasants are withholding their council tax , and demanding we work for them, and be accountable!
So come on what the hell are this lot trying to hide / cover up, with 2 developers on this council, there is something very fishy going on. How can they function without engaging with the locals, just goes to show they are up to something and trying to keep it all hidden. Investigation please.
They didn’t get your vote just so they could listen to your opinions. They want you to keep your opinions to yourself!
Councils need to be more open, why not engage more with those who in this instance stupidly voted you in? The must have power issues!
Behind closed doors = What,s in it for me
Back handers?
Sadly the words scrutiny and transparency have no meaning to town councils, .. and nobody really trusts them.. it’s the same ideas just regurgitated .. no news here ..
I can sort of understand as it specifically refers to engagement via social media. Some of the comments which appear here and on CP (which is actually far worse) are frankly shocking sometimes, but can you imagine anonymous people on Twitter etc giving abuse to Councillors? I think it would need very carefully setting up and certainly not open to all and to somehow make it not anonymous so you have to register under your real name. I’ll admit I have no idea about Twitter and whether you can vet who joins your group (and do they even have groups etc, I don’t know). But I think they’re maybe right not to jump in and let it be a free-for-all.
Looks like we could do with some young blood around that table, average age of the group???
Need to get some NEW YOUNG people on councils, fresh blood, fresh ideas for their own futures.