Crystal clear reports are still confusing councillors

10:00am Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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MORE should be done to help councillors tell their ASDMs from their C&TSSs, Bury Council leader Bob Bibby has said.

Speaking lightheartedly at the executive meeting last week, Coun Bibby said it was sometimes difficult for councillors to consider reports when they contained so many acronyms and so much technical lingo.

He added: “It does pose a problem sifting through all this important detail when it is so hard to understand what it means. If there was any way it could be simplified I’m sure it would be appreciated by all my colleagues.”

After the meeting, a Bury Council spokeswoman said: “Where acronyms are used, the full word is required to be spelled out in compliance with Plain English guidelines.

“We have very few complaints or problems in relation to reports to executive and council meetings.

“For major reports, the Crystal Mark is usually applied.

“The Crystal Mark has become widely recognised as a guarantee that a document has been written and designed as clearly as possible and documents can be assessed to ensure that they comply with the standards.”