Stop using jargon

Many are using language which ratepayers simply do not understand according to the Local Government Association which has drawn up a list of 100 words it considers inappropriate.

The list includes words like coterminosity, multidisciplinary, service users, resource allocation and partnerships.

Councils are being told to communicate properly with the public or risk alienating the very people they are meant to serve.

A quick romp through our own council website reveals a few beauties which Rother might now rethink - such as Local Development Framework, Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, Core Strategy, and Interim Consultation Statement.

Perhaps you have your own favourites and will let us know, but in the meantime Rother's senior communications officer Daniel Collins said: "Allowing residents to understand what the Council is talking about plays a vital role in the scrutiny of local government. We also want people to know what services are available to them and we can do that by explaining things in simple terms.

"Whilst we are committed to using plain English, we don't claim to be perfect and there will still be instances where so-called 'council jargon' appears. Rother will try to limit this as much as possible and the use of plain English forms an important part of the brief of Rother's communications team."