This article about Hull City Council amused me on the BBC’s news website

“People asked to criticise council”

“Hull council is appealing for people to volunteer to criticise its councillors and policies.”

I had a little chuckle as given attitudes towards Councils in general, and specifically Hull’s, I can’t see it would be difficult to round up enough people to help. 

Then again, I checked it out on the Hull City Council’s website and turns out they don’t mention criticism directly, but rather they “encourage residents to have their say in the decisions that are made”.

It’s all part of the ‘if it’s local be vocal’ campaign and the latest step is to recruit these scrutiny co-optees which look at the “council’s policies and procedures, solving any problems along the way and assisting in making sure that the best interests of Hull and its residents are fully considered.”

Sound like a good job for you? Find out more here

So who is part of the Hull People’s Panel? Apparently Hull City Council has recruited nearly 5,000 local people from across the city to take part in local decision-making, so we can tell them what we want and how we want Hull to be.

The idea is to send surveys out 3 or 4 times a year and get some feedback on pretty much everything, from local events and Council services through to what improvements we want to see in the City.

The tough part will be actually reacting to the results and putting a plan of action in place. Here’s Hull City Council’s start:

You said there needs to be more provision for teenagers

We set up www.cluedupinhull.com, a website for children and young people which gives advice about education, job training, and how to stay healthy and safe. It has received 30,000 hits since its launch in May

You said well-maintained roads and pavements and clean and tidy streets are important

The council is investing more than £17 million over the next three years to improve the condition of roads, footpaths, and street lighting in the city

You want low crime levels where you live.

We are working with local policing teams and crime is falling throughout the city – overall crime has fallen by 42 per cent in the last five years.”

Impressed?

You can sign up to join the Panel here to have your say.