How to get involved in current consultation

Details of the Consultation process can be viewed by going to the section headed:

Current consultation activity

on the Council web site or copying and pasting this link into your browser:

http://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/content/council_and_government/consultations,_complaints_and/consultation_and_engagement/current_consultation_activity/proposed_local_development_pla.aspx

If you scroll down the page you will find a section headed:

Public Consultation - How to Respond

where you will see this Representation Form link to the form which the Council continue to insist is used for representations. This despite the fact that they are unable to show that there is any Law or Government Regulation which stipulates that a person has to use their Response Form rather than simply writing a letter. When I phoned the Council they told me that whilst electronic submission is their preferred method of representation, it is not essential and I was told that letters would be accepted; but they have now gone back on this.

I have continued to pursue this aspect with the Council on behalf of those who are not on the internet or unfamiliar with the technology required to download and subsequently submit the form by email.

The Council say that anyone who has difficulty downloading the form can " contact the Council by telephone to discuss receiving a paper form".

The Council also say that "The notification letter/email did not state that electronic forms must be submitted "; and that "written representations will be accepted where individuals cannot submit them electronically but the representation form must be used."; which suggests that a person can submit the form other than electronically. This is a direct contradiction to the INSTRUCTIONS which clearly state that the form has to be downloaded and the form " must be submitted by email or via an online survey monkey" i.e. electronically. " Representations submitted by any other means will not be accepted. "

Therefore we now have the ridiculous situation where someone who is not on the internet or unfamiliar with the technology required to download and subsequently "add (the document) to an email" (by which I think they mean attach or insert) then phones the Council and receives the form but:

1. There is insufficient space on the form for more than say 50 words; whereas you are allowed to write 2,000 words per form per issue; and

2. It is not clear how such a person should submit the form since one assumes that a person who cannot download the form will be equally unable to scan it to submit by email and "representations submitted by any other means (e.g. by mail or simply handing into the Council Offices) will not be accepted".

In addition the Council say that " Multiple forms can be submitted by individuals or households in one email. If using the survey monkey multiple forms can be sent per IP address."; which appears to confirm the concern that different individuals within the same household cannot send their own representations by email using the same IP address.

The above represents the position as at 4.50pm on 21st April.

If you are concerned or simply confused you may obtain more information if you attend the surgery but I will update you as soon as I have more information.

Please feel free to forward this email to any concerned citizen and ask them to email me so that I have their address for future reference.