Thanet council has launched a new online platform for people to give their views, get involved in consultations and find updated information on projects.
YourVoice.Thanet.gov.uk is currently asking for people to give feedback on the council’s draft Net Zero Strategy and to share views on Thanet as the council prepares to renew its Corporate Priorities for the next four years. T
here will also be a chance to get involved in the engagement around regeneration projects including the Margate Town Deal and Levelling Up. These will be promoted on the website and social media once they launch.
The Your Voice Thanet platform will serve as a central hub that pulls the council’s engagement and consultation activities into one easy to navigate place. It will allow people to see when there are opportunities for public participation in the many projects the council is working on. It will also help to clarify in advance the periods when the team will be working behind the scenes, in-between a project’s milestone dates, and when end of project updates will be provided.
Anyone can see the projects on the site but to participate in reviewing ideas, giving feedback on proposed projects and contributing to the decision making process on key projects, members of the local community are invited to complete a short registration process. This also means they can be contacted in the future if projects come up that align with their interests.
The online space is designed to sit alongside activities such as in-person meetings and events.
Cllr Ash Ashbee, Leader, Thanet District Council said: “We are very excited about the potential of Your Voice Thanet to fundamentally change how we engage with our residents. There are lots of people living in the district who care deeply about what happens in Thanet. We want to hear from them because their views matter.
“This is a space where local people can hear first-hand what is going on, are empowered to get involved and importantly, understand how their input has influenced our decision making.
“We need to keep building trust and demonstrating that the work we’re doing is for the benefit of the entire district. By being open and transparent we hope that people will understand some of the challenges and also help us to shape the opportunities we do have.
“The site is not a replacement for focus groups, community outreach or other kinds of in-person engagement. What it does is open up the conversation and allow people who can’t always attend things in person the chance to have their say too.”
The council says the new online space makes it easier to have an ongoing conversation about issues that affect everyone such as climate change, housing and other priorities. Once people have signed up, they can receive updates on the projects they are interested in or hear about things that specifically affect their town or village.
Residents can sign up to access YourVoice.Thanet.gov.uk directly or via a link on the main website; thanet.gov.uk/consultations.
