Leslie Asks:
What are your thoughts on accountability and transparency and Council decisions made behind closed doors?
Far too often it appears that decisions are taken 'in camera' because the Community Charter ALLOWS the topic to be taken behind closed doors, not because the discussion/decision HAS to be taken behind closed doors.
(The Community Charter is clear on which topics must be discussed in private and which may be discussed in private, leaving a lot of leeway for lack of transparency.)
One of my main platform points is transparency in government and community engagement. I believe that information on what is going on in council and around the city should be easily accessed and understood. If there is a two hundred page plan or agenda there should be an accurate summarized version so that citizens can quickly learn what it is about. There should be short recaps of council meetings available with important dates and information released weekly. I would also like to see the council meetings moved to a time of day where the average working person can actually make it out to voice their opinion or listen to what is being spoken about. I also believe a better job can be done in informing the rest of the public when important meetings are taking place to hopefully improve public turn out.