Somerset councillor attacks council jargon as incomprehensible

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 12:32 · Archive

A Somerset councillor criticised officers' reports on the council's transformation programme for using inaccessible corporate language.

Councillor Simon Carswell, a Liberal Democrat member for Street, criticised Somerset Council officers for using jargon in reports on the authority's transformation programme at an audit committee meeting in Taunton on Thursday 29 October. The transformation programme seeks to save money by changing how key services are delivered.

Mr Carswell took particular issue with a passage pledging that officers would 'work with the council's transformation partner [Newton Consulting] to develop robust and detailed transformation plans for the first wave of diagnostic outputs'. He said: 'I think the Campaign for Plain English would have a field day with this report. The amount of corporate speak and jargon in here - I'm sure if I were to ask on any particular point: "what does that mean?", I'd get a three-word answer. So why not just put three words instead of all this "robust diagnostic outputs" nonsense?'

Sara Cretney, the officer who wrote the report, said she would take Mr Carswell's feedback on board and use clearer language in future. Councillor Mike Hewitson, who chaired the meeting, apologised for Mr Carswell's language and asked the committee to 'take the temperature down a little' with any additional feedback.

Somerset councillor attacks council jargon as incomprehensible — Image: Somerset County Gazette

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How it is being reported

Somerset Council jargon branded 'b******s' in plea for plain EnglishCouncillor Simon Carswell made the "fruity" utterance in frustration at how progress on the council's transformation programme is being communicatedSomerset County Gazette · 13 Nov, 12:00
Somerset Council jargon branded 'b******s' in plea for plain EnglishCouncillor Simon Carswell made the "fruity" utterance in frustration at how progress on the council's transformation programme is being communicatedBridgwater Mercury · 13 Nov, 12:00

In this story: Simon Carswell · Somerset Council · Sara Cretney · Newton Consulting · Mike Hewitson · Taunton · Street

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