Elmbridge Council accused of bamboozling residents with "gobbledygook"

Jargon and council speak in this year’s Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report was discussed at a council meeting on Monday evening.

Shown the report after the meeting by the Elmbridge Guardian, Marie Clair, spokesperson for the Plain English Campaign said: "This annual report, written by the councillors, is an unexpected disappointment for Elmbridge Borough Council who have some excellent examples of crystal clear information for the public.

"It’s plain common sense that all levels of communication should be in plain English.

"Why put up barriers of language for your fellow workers or the rate payers?"

Opposition Lib Dem councillor Steve Wells told fellow councillors that a section would not be understood by Elmbridge residents because of the language.

He said: "We need to free Gulliver from this pseudo-professionalism and focus on the needs of the people in this borough.

"The fourth paragraph is absolute gobbledygook.

"I’ll give £10 to the Mayor’s charity if anyone can explain to me what it means.

"The function of overview and scrutiny is to cut through this."

Speaking to the Elmbridge Guardian after the meeting, Coun Wells said the report had still not been explained to him.

Does this make any sense to you or is it management speak mumbo-jumbo?

Part of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report.

"Partnerships were introduced as a package of agenda items in September, with the intention of highlighting the new Comprehensive Area Assessment and requirements to work with our 'statutory partners'; the extent of the Council's partnerships working; and work to develop a framework for evaluating the robustness and added value of these arrangements - a cornerstone of future external assessments.

"This was followed up with the establishment of a Partnerships Task Group to ensure we are scrutinising this issue in the most effective way."

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