It would be useful if the Council responded to Sheffield Forum so that people could ask questions.

I do get the feeling that politicians lurk around here like journalists just in case there is something that’s of benefit to them or the party. It’s a shame that they don’t feel able to get involved with their voters here.

Hi Tony,

good idea - but it would be a PR nightmare for them coming into an open forum - it would take a lot of skill on the part of a council PR lady/bloke.

First they'd have to avoid all out flame wars, cries for their sacking and general baiting for fun and entertainment.

Next they'd have a full time job either referring people with grievances to the 'correct channels' which would come across as being a jobsworth or 'corporate brainwashed' bod.

Or on the other hand, they'd have a full time job trying to be useful to folks on the forum and making themselves unpopular with people on the inside of the council who would rather not be bothered directly.

On the other hand (hope noone's counting hands ) there could be someone who really cares about making a difference, someone who looks for real opportunities to connect with the widest range of Sheffield community and could be made available to the Forum as part of their job :)

I'm hoping it's the third case... :thumbsup:

I do get the feeling they will arrive here in doves when its come close to election time and then disappear for good afterward.

Good points alert_bri. Believe it or not Tony but a lot of councillors are aware of the forum and about what's said on here. However, as alert_bri has pointed out, if any of them were to come on and make themselves available they would be opening themselves up to a lot of abuse. The ones I know prefer to deal at third hand with the issues raised for just that reason.

As for someone who cares about making a difference alert_bri I like to think that I do and that I'm doing something about it. I have dealt with several issues raised on the forum and have put the people concerned in touch with either councillors or council departments. No, I'm not a councillor nor do I work for the council, I just like helping people.

I have said this before in other threads, there are people lurking looking for a good story.

There have been threads on here that we have discussed and bingo 2 weeks later there is a 2 page spread in the Star. (Posh Nosh Thread springs to mind)

There is another example this morning on the BBC South Yorkshire site.

We had this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=798) back in April 2003 and it has run ever since and quite rightly keeps re surfacing. This morning I check the BBC South Yorks site and they have this story and quiz.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/quiz/yorkshire/index.shtml

Not exactly the same I know but very similar.

I don't think that washes Max. Third hand works for thierr benefit. If they were on top of things and honest, then the Forum might even work FOR them.

Open honest communication with your council .. hmmm now there is a novel idea! How could they spin that?

I'm in an awkward position over this one. By night and weeked I run the infamous CRB, but by day......I work for the Council.

The trouble is I cannot really speak for the council as I'm just a mere lowly officer who is told what to do and all I witness is a line of bureacracy and I'm far from being a decision maker.

As a CRB representative I have complained about the Council to the Council while working at the Council. There are so many different departments it's like different companies in many ways.

NB - If anyone from the Council reads this, I'm only posting on this thread during breaks and not during work time!

Classic Rock - thanks for an insider's insight. Pretty much confirms the worst however I believe there is hope!

I believe that inside every bureacracy there are real human people - some who haven't lost hope of making a difference yet!

All we need to do is find them and give 'em our support so they can change things from the inside... even the berlin wall fell eventually! (so I hear - although I'm politically ignorant :))

Are there any other mice dodging around the dinosaur's feet who can help us in the Council?

Originally posted by Classic Rock
NB - If anyone from the Council reads this, I'm only posting on this thread during breaks and not during work time!
You have a break at 11:42am??? So close to lunch break time too... seems a funny time to allow you a break Classic!

He he:thumbsup:

As an aside Richard Allan - MP for Hallam has posted on this site, he liked the Eccy Rd thread, but then again he is a techy and he is giving up politics to go back into IT.

Find his posts here
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=56443


Richard Caborn is a registered user, but no proof its really him as zero posts.

Originally posted by mikey
There is another example this morning on the BBC South Yorkshire site. We had this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=798) back in April 2003 and it has run ever since and quite rightly keeps re surfacing. This morning I check the BBC South Yorks site and they have this story and quiz.
[...] Not exactly the same I know but very similar.
Don't get me started on the BBC South Yorkshire! Since day 1 of this forum they have shunned all my efforts to contact them. Even when the Star and Telegraph printed details of the site's launch, a spokesperson from the BBC told me there was no the point in running my story because they have their own site dedicated to South Yorkshire - charming :(

As for the council. I've made some contacts within the public relations department who I'm sure would be happy to field constructive questions. If there is a particular issue that the forum userbase feel strongly about then we can always start some form of "campaign".

Originally posted by mikey
I have said this before in other threads, there are people lurking looking for a good story.

There have been threads on here that we have discussed and bingo 2 weeks later there is a 2 page spread in the Star. (Posh Nosh Thread springs to mind)


If I remember rightly, the same thing happened with the speed dating thread...

And as for the council, it's hard enough getting an answer from them if you contact them directly! Can't imagine them being helpful or forthcoming here...