Mary Reid, a former (and undefeated) councillor, mayor and cabinet member in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames discusses elected representatives and community engagement.

1. CREATIVE COUNCILS:
ELECTED MEMBERS AND PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT
Mary Reid
mary@maryreid.org.uk

3. What motivates councillors?
Structures and strategies that support
public engagement

4. WHAT MOTIVATES
COUNCILLORS?

5. I want to improve
things for local
residents I want to get
re-elected
I want to be
associated
I want to improve with popular
the public and successful
perception of initiatives
councillors

6. BUT …
I’m a
backbencher so
I’m elected to
represent the I don’t make
residents so I any decisions
don’t need to I don’t like
consult them confrontation
I don’t know how I didn’t expect
to (or don’t want to get elected
to) use social
media

7. WHY ENGAGE? Evidence
driven
decision-
making
Councillors
The
wisdom of
and Sustainable
outcomes
the crowd Council
officers
Popular
outcomes

8. WHY ENGAGE? I want to
please my
electors
It fits with
It raises my
my political
philosophy
Councillors profile
It’s
democracy!

9. Councillors are elected by, and represent,
the residents, so it is in their interest to find
out what the residents want and try to make
it happen.

10. Small projects
Large projects

11. Small projects are just as important, if not
more important, to councillors as large
ones, because they are the ones that really
capture the interest of the voting public

12. Identify
problem
Inform and
Monitor consult
residents
Feedback Make
to residents decision

13. For the councillor, feedback is crucial.

14. STRUCTURES AND STRATEGIES
THAT SUPPORT PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT

15. Structures and strategies that
• allow people
(councillors, officers, residents) to work co-
operatively towards the best solution
• reduce confrontation and aim for
consensus
• are accessible, relevant and interesting to
residents
• make best use of ward councillors
• are effective and efficient

16. AREA COMMITTEES

17. Neighbourhoods in
Kingston upon Thames

18. Responsible for local matters including
• Traffic
• Parking
• Planning applications
• Parks and open spaces
• Libraries
Neighbourhood Improvement Fund

19. A meeting of the SOUTH OF THE BOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMITTEE will be
held at CHESSINGTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE THEATRE, GARRISON LANE, KT9
2JS on WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2012 at 7:30 pm
Members of the Committee
Chessington North & Hook Ward Tolworth & Hook Rise Ward
Councillor Andrew Day Councillor Sharon Hartley
Councillor Alan Dean Councillor Rolson Davies
Councillor Margaret Thompson Councillor Vicki Harris (Vice-Chair)
Chessington South Ward
Councillor Rachel Reid (Chair)
Councillor Patricia Bamford
Councillor Shiraz Mirza
NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGER’S SURGERY
The Neighbourhood Manager, Barry Allen, will be available from 6.30pm before the
meeting to answer any questions or address any areas of concern.
QUESTION TIME AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING
There is a Question Time of up to the first 30 minutes from 7.30pm-8pm. Details on
asking questions, access to the meeting, speaking on items, and other information is on
the yellow pages, just after the list of agenda items.

20. RUNNING ORDER
Items may be taken in a different order depending on the interests of the members of the
public present at the meeting. Please fill out a pink form, available at the start of the
meeting, if you would like to request that a particular item is heard earlier.
AGENDA
A APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
B DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - Members are asked to state any interests -
personal or prejudicial – on items on this agenda.
C PETITIONS - To receive any petitions from residents.
1. MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2012.
2. NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGER'S REPORT
The Neighbourhood Manager will report on issues arising.
3. PLANNING APPLICATIONS (Appendix A)
4. PLANNING CONSULTATION (11/10311/FUL): ARGENT HOUSE, HOOK RISE
SOUTH, SURBITON, KT6 7LD (Appendix B)
5. PLANNING CONSULTATION (12/10008/FUL): CHESSINGTON WORLD OF
ADVENTURE, LEATHERHEAD ROAD, CHESSINGTON, KT9 2HS (Appendix C)
6. TOLWORTH GIRLS SCHOOL WALKING SCHEME (Appendix D)
7. HOOK ROAD / ELM ROAD JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT (Appendix E)
8. NEIGHBOURHOOD GRANTS (Appendix F)
9. URGENT ITEMS AUTHORISED BY THE CHAIR
10. INFORMATION ITEMS (Appendix G)

22. TASK GROUPS

28. STREET MEETINGS

30. COMMUNITY PANELS

32. ONLINE CHANNELS

38. Why politicians shouldn’t get too cocky