Margate Town Deal

We are not currently looking to build the Panel numbers and are therefore closed to new applications.  In any future call out, members of the public who apply will be selected at random to broadly represent the wider population.  Anyone who lives or works in Margate could apply for the Panel with the exception of the following:

• Members of decision making / strategic team at Thanet District Council or Kent County Council;
• Political representative e.g. an MP, Councillor, Mayor or Charter Trustee;
• Senior official for a community group or organisation or Town Deal stakeholder (including those who have applied for funding from the Town Deal).

To ensure the panel is representative, the online application form asks for demographic details and applications are anonymised.  During any application process and a random sample will be selected on the basis of the Margate’s demographic profile. This is to ensure that the panel reflects the community.

A People’s Panel is an innovative democratic tool used all over the world. It brings together a randomly selected group of people who broadly represent the wider population. Those who attend learn about important issues, discuss them with one another and then put forward ideas about what should happen and how things could change.  People’s Panels are used by statutory agencies to identify local priorities and to engage people on specific issues.

In terms of the role of the panel, one way to think about it is “making it Margate”.  Alongside a wider programme of community engagement, panel members will help to ensure the drivers for change and evidence of need reflect the perspectives of local people.  The proposals for the Town Investment Plan will draw on learnings from other towns and cities from around the globe, but there is no place like Margate so working with the panel will enable the Town Deal Board to ensure it is “making it Margate.” The panel’s purpose is to be a ‘critical friend’ and ensure that the evidence collected informs the Board and helps it make decisions that reflect the Margate you live and work in.  

The People’s Panel is not itself a decision making body, so the membership will not be made public.  Its role is to help the Board understand public opinions and put forward ideas for consideration

The Margate Town Deal People’s Panel is a mechanism for the Margate Town Deal Board to engage with local people and benefit from your knowledge, ideas and issues to inform decision making. The People’s Panel will last the length of the Town Deal (around 5 years) and your involvement is likely to include taking part in events, meetings and completing questionnaires. You can be a member of the panel for as long as you wish but you can also leave at any time. It is vital that members of the Panel Play an active role, and meet a minimum contribution in terms of input, in order to retain their place on the panel. Therefore if you do not participate in three consecutive activities (without asking to be excused) you will be asked to leave the panel.

The membership of the People’s Panel will not be made public. You can let people know you are a member should you so wish and the topics that the panel is discussing and debating. A standing agenda item for all panel meetings will be communications which will clarify, in the unlikely event, if there is any information you cannot share publicly. Membership of the panel will be revoked if a member publicly shares any information they have been instructed not to share.

All Margate Town Deal People’s Panel members will:

Respect each other

Panel members may not always agree and may have differences in opinion, but members will always listen to and value each other’s ideas, viewpoints, ideas and concerns. In all interactions and communications panel members will be respectful and create a shared space to debate and consider the merits of different opinions. Discussion should be constructive, positive and seek to build consensus, with panel members taking the time to listen to and consider all opinions equally

Speak Honestly and Openly but Courteously

There will be times when panel members disagree and have differences of opinion. Members must be able to speak honestly and openly when discussing the Margate Town Deal. It is important that these conversations are respectful, with panel members being empowered to say what they think in the knowledge that they will be listened to. This honesty extends to declaring potential conflicts of interest. All panel members must complete a Register of Interests. If your interests change or if you become aware of any other conflicts of interest you must inform the Margate Town Deal Board in writing.

Appreciate a Wide Range of Perspectives

Every panel member will have a different perspective, different ideas and different concerns. Discussions are not about winning an argument but about exploring ideas to make the Margate Town Deal better. Members should trust each other and listen to all ideas, comments and concerns that come from other members.

The following behaviours are not acceptable and will result in expulsion from the Panel:

Violence or Threats of Violence

On or offline violence or threats of violence against panel members is unacceptable. This includes posting or threatening to post other people’s personal information (“doxxing”) online.

Personal Attacks

Open and honest discussion can lead to conflicts and frustrations. This should never cross the line and become personal attacks, either during panel meetings or through social media and other platforms. It is important to question and query other people’s ideas and perspectives, but it is not acceptable to insult, demean or belittle other members of the Panel.

Hurtful or Harmful Language

Hurtful or harmful language related to the following is not acceptable:

• • Background
  • Family status
  • Gender
  • Gender identity or expression
  • Marital status
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Native language
  • Age
  • Ability
  • Race and/or ethnicity
  • Caste
  • National origin
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Religion
  • Geographic location
  • Other attributes

Panel members should avoid using derogatory language. If you are unsure if a word is hurtful or harmful, do not use it.

Disruptive Behaviour

Panel meetings will be honest and open discussions, which may result in differences of opinion. However, sustained disruption of meetings, presentations and talks, including talking over or heckling other panel members or speakers. will not be tolerated.

Influencing Unacceptable Behaviour

Influencing or leading unacceptable behaviour among other panel members or members of the wider community, will be treated the same way as the activities themselves and result in expulsion from the panel

If you believe that you or a member of the Panel is in breach of the above please report it to margate-town-deal@thanet.gov.uk.

Each case will be reviewed by the Director of Regeneration, and next steps determined based on the evidence available. If a Panel Member is found to be in violation of the behaviour and expectations outlined in this document they will be expelled.