It’s going to be easier than ever to have your say on the future of vital public services in Swansea.
Seven public and voluntary bodies have joined forces to set up a website that gives local people the chance to speak out on the latest initiatives going on in the city.
Chris Holley, Leader of Swansea Council, said the Swansea Says website is a brand new idea aimed at helping local residents get better connected with the people who serve them.
It can be found at http://www.swanseasays.org.uk
The organisations involved so far are the City and County of Swansea Council, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, South Wales Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue, ABMU NHS Trust, the Local Health Board, the Police Authority and the Welsh Language Board.
Cllr Holley said: “One or another of these organisations touch the lives of virtually every person living in our communities virtually every day.
“The new website is designed to allow people the chance to have their say on how these organisations work and influence they way they’ll work in the future.
“In the past some people have said it’s hard for ordinary people to affect the way organisations like the Council, the police and the health services operate. But all of us are working hard to bridge that gap and to make it easier than ever for people to have their say.”
Chief Insp Will Rees, Communities and Partnerships officer for South Wales Police in Swansea, said that seeking feedback on consultations online was important.
“We recognise that not everyone is in a position to attend other forms of consultation, for example PACT meetings, and it’s important to capture their views as well,” he said.
“Web-based consultation through the Swansea Consultation Partnership will help us do that.”
Dorothy Edwards, Interim Locality Director for the ABMU NHS Trust, said: “I hope this new Consultation website will provide an easy and accessible way for people in Swansea to let us know what they think of any developments we propose, and allow them to get their voices heard and share their ideas and comments.”
Carol Green, Director, Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, added: “SCVS are pleased to be partners in this project and hope it will allow people in Swansea to have more access to consultations which affect the lives of citizens.”
The website will include direct links to any piece of consultation running with any of the seven organisations involved. In future it will also report back on what has happened with those consultation exercises.
