Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Hopefully the new WC will use plain English ...
The Local Government Association list, which has been sent to councils across the country, sets out 200 words and phrases that all public sector bodies should avoid when talking to people about the work they do and the services they provide.

They include taxonomy, re-baselining, mainstreaming, holistic governance, contestability and ‘predictors of beaconicity’.

The initiative is designed to make the work of the often poorly-understood public services more accessible. Chairman of the Local Government Association, Cllr Margaret Eaton, said: “The public sector must not hide behind impenetrable jargon and phrases. Why do we have to have ‘coterminous, stakeholder engagement’ when we could just ‘talk to people’ instead?

“During the recession, it is vital that we explain to people in plain English how to get access to the eight hundred different services that local government provides with taxpayers’ money.

“Councils have a duty, not only to provide value for money to local people, but also to tell people what they get for the tax they pay.”