Deputy Mayor Melanie Tavendale said just as the council had used informal discussion at "forums" during this year’s annual plan consultations, the Facebook session on Tuesday night was useful to take into account points of view that might be missed during the more formal submission process and also to correct misconceptions about what was proposed.
"I just think the more bases we can cover, the more likely we are going to capture more people ... there’s a few topics that people engage with more than others, but submission numbers aren’t huge for some of the big decisions we are making," Cr Tavendale said.
"We’re just trying to find different ways to gauge opinion.
"It’s not that different from the [formal] submissions in that it captures a certain audience. And I think that our submission process does as well. It’s about us trying to be ... multi-faceted, I guess, in our approach to submissions. Certainly having Facebook as an avenue is tapping into audiences that we may not usually engage with."
For the first time, the proposed general bylaw would limit the number of cats people could have in the district. The draft bylaw allows for three companion cats per rateable property, with an exemption possible if cats were desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.
The issue was addressed by the council staff and elected officials running this week’s social media consultation.
Responses to the council’s question "Does this sound reasonable to you?" ranged from "far too lenient" to no limit required; some respondents found micro-chipping a cat a step too far; and others advocated keeping cats contained on the property. Council communications adviser Alena Lynch said due to the response this week, a second social media consultation would take place next Thursday to discuss other issues in the draft bylaw, including beekeeping and roosters in urban areas.
This week’s session was the second time the council had used social media to consult the public; last year’s freedom camping bylaw consultation was the first.
The consultation period closes on August 3.hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz
