Earlier this year, Bristol City Council began a review of its Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The primary aim was to identify a scheme that was both cost-effective and could cater for the needs of its most vulnerable residents.
From the beginning, the Council recognised the importance of examining multiple options. Its rigorous impact analysis led it to shortlist two promising types of scheme. These were then presented to internal stakeholders, such as senior officers elected officials. The challenge now was to select the best scheme after presenting the options to the wider community in a public consultation.
In 2019, the Council collaborated with consultants from Visionary Network, a not-for-profit group. The Council’s mission was to transform the existing scheme document, into a clear and easy-to-understand format. This reformed version, clear of ambiguities, was welcomed by officials and stakeholders alike. It made it easier to resolve policy questions internally, because it was now possible to rely on clear written explanations rather than struggling to interpret complex, overlapping rules.
Given the success of their prior collaboration, the Council once again partnered with Visionary Network. The goal? To craft plain language versions of the shortlisted schemes. This ensured all stakeholders had a clear understanding of the proposals from the outset and were able to fully participate in the consultation process.
Ian McIntyre from Bristol City Council remarked, “The plain language scheme is much more user friendly and focussed on our citizens and partners throughout the city. It ensures comprehension of the scheme, making it more straightforward to give appropriate support. We’re immensely pleased with the final products and Visionary Network have always been a pleasure to work with.”
Visionary Network’s practical experience gives it a distinct advantage. Whether you’re shaping new policies or evaluating existing ones, we always see the wider context. We like to understand what the council is trying to achieve as a whole and then fit our work around those objectives.
Visionary Network’s role in the success of the Bristol CTR project lay in our skills in refining policy documents and high-level options into workable solutions. Our clear and succinct rewriting of materials played a part in streamlining processes across the board.
The Bristol project focuses on language clarity and efficiency, leading to operational efficiency. This synergy ensures that Council Tax Reduction Schemes seamlessly align with the broader council-wide strategy of swiftly and accurately supporting vulnerable households while optimising resources.
When producing a policy, you’re making a strategic investment that directly influences results and overall success. Bristol City Council’s collaboration with Visionary Network illustrates the immense potential of simplifying complex documents. Not only does this ensure a more transparent process, but it also saves time, resources, and most importantly, ensures that every citizen understands their rights and responsibilities.
Please contact Malcolm Gardner malcolm@visionarynetwork.co.uk or 07946800171 / 0113 286 8828 or see http://www.visionarynetwork.co.uk for more details.
Copyright Notice
The style, wording, and format of all clear and concise products, including CTR rewrites, produced by Visionary Network Ltd. are protected under copyright law © 2024 Visionary Network Ltd. All rights reserved. This protection applies specifically to the style, wording, and format, and does not extend to the underlying schemes themselves. Councils for whom Visionary Network Ltd. has developed materials are granted a limited, non-exclusive license to use the style and format exclusively for their own internal schemes. This license is non-transferable and does not permit further use or adaptation of the style, wording, or format for any third-party or external purposes. Any other use without prior written consent from Visionary Network Ltd. is strictly prohibited.