Council is trialling an informal way for residents to engage with their elected members through Let’s Chat Thursday.
Councillors will be available for relaxed, drop-in sessions every Thursday from 11am to 1pm at the Waimate Bakery. This initiative is being run as a three-month trial, with a different Councillor attending each week. There are no presentations, no speeches, and no set agenda – just one-on-one conversations at a time that suits you.
Residents are encouraged to use Let’s Chat Thursday to provide feedback on Council services, share ideas for district improvement, discuss local concerns, or ask questions about Council decisions.
Council hopes the casual nature of the sessions will make it easier for people who may not usually attend meetings or submit written feedback. Listening directly to residents in a relaxed setting helps Councillors better understand what matters to the community.
The first few sessions have been extremely positive. We want to thank everyone who stopped by and shared their thoughts. Be it feedback or a compliment.
We had people come to elected members and talk about how impressed they are with the new activities at the Event Centre. It is heartwarming to see a community asset being used by the community. We can take some pride in saying that we’ve only had positive and constructive feedback.
“Let’s Chat Thursday is all about being available and listening. Not everyone wants to come to a meeting or put something in writing, so this gives people another easy way to talk with a Councillor,” says Mayor Craig Rowley.
Whether you have something on your mind or just want to say hello, your Councillors are looking forward to chatting with you.
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