West Somerset New Economic Development Strategy fatally flawed by old fashioned consultation systems

I read in the West Somerset Free Press (October 10th, 2008) that local business leader Graham Sizer had complained that the 'wrong people' have been invited to a workshop to help create a 'new economic strategy' for West Somerset driven by consultants EKOS.

The truth is that any consultation using the outdated and old fashioned systems of selective invitation, secretive committee meetings and hierarchical structures stubbornly supported by West Somerset Council is unlikely to achieve innovative ideas or any breakthrough in creative thinking for the local economy.

Mr Sizer complained that shopkeepers and service industries in Minehead's industrial parks and the local 'care industry' had been left out and that the list of attendees read like an 'estate agent's convention'.

But what about all the people in this area who work from home using online auction sites or otherwise with an involvement in online marketing? The list of people who may be working in this area who are not involved is theoretically endless. Who compiled the list anyway?

If the West Somerset Council really wanted broadly based and innovative thinking they would implement consultation structures based on Internet forums, as I have suggested to them over many years. Only when ALL people who have an interest in making decisions are able to contribute to reasoned debate and forensic analysis of alternatives is there any real possibility of movement forward and original thinking. It may not even happen then!

Unfortunately, although the new intake of Independent councillors have proved to be a huge step up from the previous administration, my pleas on the subject of improved consultation systems have been completely ignored.

I've written to councillors, to the local newspapers and, complaining loudly, taken part in many old fashioned and flawed local consultations. I have attempted to write to the West Somerset Strategic Partnership whose Chairman completely ignored me. I work online on the Internet, surely this industry should be represented? Where is my invitation? I feel excluded, disregarded and insulted! Not for the first time, sadly.

Frankly, I've more or less given up on West Somerset. It has huge challenges economically but the people in power, especially the Local Authority Officers, show no sign of the sort of leadership that is likely to make a difference.

I could give specific examples but, in doing so, I would almost certainly be wasting my time. The people locally in power and possibly the local population probably just don't really care.

These days, I rarely waste my time writing about West Somerset. I have too many others things to worry about.

The best thing about this area is the countryside and the natural scenery.

The West Somerset mandarins, at least, can't do anything to harm that.

Bye for now

Rob