Last updated 13:22, Monday, 08 September 2008

In the last few weeks all three of the city council’s overview and scrutiny committees have voiced concerns about a lack of plans in place to scrutinise the private sector-led Carlisle Renaissance Board.

Carlisle Renaissance: an artist's impression

Why when the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition voted for the Carlisle Renaissance Board to be set up, wasn’t the scrutiny of the board agreed beforehand?

It’s a bit late now to be worried as they are now up and running and appear to be answerable to no-one.

Even the Corporate Improvement Plan fails to address these issues.

The Community Engagement Policy is to go before the next council meeting for approval.

The residents of Rickergate are still waiting for anyone to bother to tell them of the future plans for the area.

Will engagement with the community apply to all the communities, not just parish councils and the many quangos and partnerships that have been formed over the last year or so.

Apparently there has been more Freedom of Information requests than at any time in the past since records began; surely this must be telling the council something?

Yet more citizens of Carlisle are complaining about lack of consultation from the council, now it is the turn of Carlisle Housing Association tenants, whose turn will it be next week.

JULIE TEMPLETON
Committee member
Save Our Streets
Corporation Road
Carlisle