Rutland County Council is undertaking consultation on changes to its Statement of Community Involvement. They tell us the changes will allow “ a focus on electronic and web-based formats”.

 This consultation has been run from Friday 19June 2020 for 4 weeks, ending at 4.30pm on Friday 17 July 2020.  Responses received after this date will not be considered.

THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST CHANCE THAT THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF RUTLAND WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO INFLUENCE OUR FUTURE.

This is likely to severely disenfranchise a large proportion of the Rutland population particularly those over 65. The Office for National Statistics report that in 2018 some 12.7m adults (20% of the population) were estimated to have no or limited digital skills.

We are also told that over 75% of all internet non-users are aged over 65.

For Rutland with a population of 38,000 that equates to 7,600 people with no or limited internet skills with 5,700 of those in the older age group.

Please do not allow so many to be disenfranchised tell RCC it is important everyone has a voice.

Please reply to the consultation by Friday. https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building-control/planning/planning-policy/statement-of-community-involvement/