Red-faced South Ayrshire Council send old invites to public

Sep 3 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BLUNDERING council chiefs sent out invites to a public meeting – three days after the event.

South Ayrshire admin staff posted publicity leaflets to stunned residents, who couldn’t possibly attend.

And the red-faced council watched in horror as only TWO people attended their first two meetings.

The invites, to a discussion on local housing strategy, urged residents to turn out in Troon and Prestwick.

The meetings are part of a public consultation being held by the council on how to improve housing issues in South Ayrshire.

Opening the roadshow was Prestwick on Monday, August 23 and Troon the following night.

But talk was non-existent and the inquest has now begun.

Gordon McKenzie, secretary of Prestwick North Community Council, confessed: “I was baffled when the letter dropped through my door.

“I thought it must have been some sort of joke – I’d have needed a time machine to get to the meeting.

“It’s great to see how serious the council is taking public consultation if this is how they go about it.”

Empty halls greeted embarrassed councillors who turned up to the meetings last week.

Hi-tech presentations had been prepared by a five-person team from the council’s housing department which covered a range of topics.

And Tory councillor Peter Convery, who rattled around a ghostly Walker Hall in Troon, has now called for the meetings to be re-scheduled.

He admitted: “I enjoyed the undivided attention of five council officers for the night – and their presentation was very impressive.

“But I know for a fact that a large number of people in Troon are hugely interested in this subject, so it makes no sense that only one person would show up.

“It’s extremely concerning that they may not have been told about these meetings.

“The fact that it’s happened in both Troon and Prestwick proves that something has gone badly wrong and we must investigate.

“There is no way that only two people from a population of more than 30,000 would come out for something like this.”

Troon community council confirmed to the Post they were clueless about the event.

Chairman Douglas Graham said: “I had no idea about it.”

And Prestwick councillor Hugh Hunter, who attended a similar farce at Prestwick Community Centre the night before, admits it’s red faces all round.

He said: “It’s absolutely unacceptable for something like this to happen.

“If you’re going to inform community councils of public events, you should give them six weeks’ notice so they can discuss it at their next meeting.”

Fellow Prestwick councillor Helen Moonie claims she only found out about the public meeting in an email from council chiefs – 48 hours before the event.

She said: “The council can’t complain about poor responses if they’re not prepared to engage properly with the public.”

However, council chiefs say letters were sent to the public and claim they’re all ears for responses.

David Burns, of divisional housing, said: “Due to the established structures that exist within community councils and registered tenants organisations, letters were sent to these organisations offering the presence of an officer at their regular meeting to discuss the Local Housing Strategy in greater detail.

“The recent Local Housing Strategy consultation events in Prestwick and Troon were an opportunity for those not involved with formal structures, such as community councils, to hear and offer their opinion on the council’s proposals.

“South Ayrshire Council is actively listening to the public, taking on board their suggestions, views and ideas to design and build quality homes for the 21st century and we would encourage anyone with an interest in making their own views known to come along and attend one of the future consultation events.”