HDC Councillor Personal Websites

Whilst researching a piece on Andrew Gilbert I found he had a Council provided personal website. I see other Councillors have the same facility. So I thought I would take a look through and see how up to date they all are. This is what I found. I started with a St Neots District Councillor.

Cllr Andrew Gilbert Page updated: 01/10/2008 - 1 year 3 months ago

I then moved onto other District Councillors

Cllr Keith Morton Baker Page updated: 07/11/2008 - 1 year 2 months ago

Cllr Ian Bates Page updated: 24/05/2006 - 3 year 8 months

Cllr Peter Bucknell Page updated: 06/01/2010 - THIS MONTH

Cllr Peter Mitchell Page updated: 16/01/2007 - 2 years ago

Cllr David Priestman Page updated: 06/04/2009 - 9 months ago

Cllr Peter Reeve Page updated: 08/01/2010 - THIS MONTH

Cllr Michael Shellens Page updated: 09/10/2009 - 3 months ago

Cllr Mike Simpson Page updated: 10/07/2006 - 3 years 6 months ago

Cllr John Watt Page updated: 12/05/2006 - 3 years 8 months ago

Cllr Richard West Page updated: 23/12/2009 - 1 month ago

Out of 51 Councillors 11 have these Personal websites. Of these 2 have updated this month. 1 just over a month ago. 1 has updated 3 months ago. The other 7 haven't updated there sites for over 6 months.

This just shows how badly our Councillors are communicating with their electors. I feel this needs to change. I feel it is time to withdraw this facility and allow the councillors to use their own initiative in communicating with their electors. With some notable exceptions (Cllrs Bucknell, Reeve and West) this facility is not being used by the vast majority of councillors and should be closed down.