John,Because it isn't an official communication medium. If the Council sent out a letter it's on proper headed paper etc., it comes from an employee based at a Council office during normal working hours, and if a Council employee sends an email it's usually got all the relevant legal footnotes on it to protect both the employee and the organisation.If I'm a Council Officer and I post on this forum there's no legal footnotes, there's no letter head or such like. How can anyone reading it know for certain whether I'm posting as a Council Officer, expressing the stance/opinion of the organisation, or as a individual human being ?. If I post during normal working hours I might actually be on leave, not in the office, so the timing isn't a definitive indicator of what capacity I'm posting in.The bottom line is that if an employee posts on here they are putting both themselves and the organisation as a whole in a vulnerable position, as to be honest, there's always one idiot out there who will exploit the situation.When I was younger and more naive, around 10 or so years ago, I thought these forums were a great opportunity to engage with the public in a well-intended manner. My bosses at the time took a different view, and the time I felt they were wrong. Now I'm completely of the same view as them and there's no way I'd be willing to risk either the organisation or the individual by allowing anyone to post.Indeed, even when I post on here, I regularly feel the need to distinguish between me posting as Adam Beamish a resident of the Borough, and Adam Beamish a professional planning consultant.Quite simply, in my view if anyone wants a formal response on any subject from the Council as an organisation or from one of its employees, that has to be done by way of a direct letter or email.
Adam Beamish ● 4581d