HOW DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT COUNCIL SERVICES?

How do you want to find out about council services and information? That’s what local people are being asked as part of new consultation.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “Times are changing and, with fewer and fewer resources, we need to make sure we’re doing things in the most effective way, providing residents with the best value for money. We must ensure that our residents can access important information about the services, benefits and advice we provide and that this is done in a clear and effective way. We have to use our limited resources the best ways possible, so it’s more important than ever for the council to understand how local people would like us to communicate with them.”

The council currently communicates with its residents in a number of different ways. This includes:
· through its website www.thanet.gov.uk
· using magazines and newsletters, such as Thanet Matters, the council’s corporate magazine and Your Say, the magazine for tenants
· through printed material, such as posters, leaflets and flyers
· using local media, such as newspapers and radio stations
· through social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook

A short survey is now available for people to complete online at www.thanet.gov.uk with hard copies available from Thanet’s Gateway Plus in Margate or local libraries.

You can also request a survey by either e-mailing consultation@thanet.gov.uk or by calling 01843 577120.

The survey asks how people would like to find out about council services and information in the future, whether the council should use online services more and what people think of the council’s magazine, Thanet Matters.

All surveys must be completed and returned by Friday 17 December 2010