Methodology
6.1 Plain English will be used in written
communication.
6.2 Braintree District Council and Parish and Town
Councils will make best use of the information technology available
to promote quick and efficient communication. Where possible
information will be provided electronically.
6.3 An extra four days will be allowed for
communication sent by conventional mail so as not to disadvantage
Parish/Town Councils not yet equipped with IT.
6.4 Braintree District Council will produce a
regularly updated contact list which includes email addresses of
Braintree District Council Officers and Members.
6.5 Parish and Town Councils will provide the clerks
e-mail address and contact information to Braintree District
Council to allow the compilation of the directory of Parish/Town
Council email addresses and up-to date contact details.
6.6 Braintree District Council Officers or Members
will make every effort to attend Parish/Town Council meetings when
invited.
6.7 Parish and Town Councils will make every effort
to attend meetings/events run by Braintree District Council in
which they may have an interest.
6.8 Braintree District Council will communicate with
Parish and Town Councils and all households in the community by
distributing "Contact" a quarterly publication and also through
other relevant newsletters and local promotional material as they
become available.
Performance Standard
6.9 Parish/Town Councils will provide substantive
answers to letters, emails and faxes which need a reply in
accordance with the provisions of their respective customer service
standards.
6.10 Braintree District Council will send a full
substantive reply or an acknowledgement to correspondence within 10
working days (for letters) or within 3 working days (for emails and
faxes). If an acknowledgement is sent, the full substantive reply
will be sent within 10 working days, or within a time frame agreed
by both parties.
6.11 If a Parish or Town Council is dissatisfied with Braintree
District Council actions, the response to a request for
information, or a failure to consult, the Parish or Town Council
may make a formal complaint to the Corporate Complaints
Manager.
Sharing Information
6.12 Braintree District Council will develop Parish
Information pages within the Braintree District Council Website to
provide an easy access point to relevant information for Parish and
Town Councils with links to relevant organisations’ websites.
6.13 Braintree District Council will provide a link
on its website to websites created by parish/town councils.
6.14 Parish and Town Councils, where possible, will
provide a link to Braintree District Council’s website on their
websites.