TNAG-0199-FCO40-235-City-district-officer-scheme-1969 — Page 155

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now. With the secondment scheme the problem of Liaison

Officers will probably be solved. The finding and renting

of suitable shop premises has proved unexpectedly difficult

and slow. Three offices are open, work is in hand on two

others, premises have been selected for three more but in two

Districts nothing suitable has yet been found.

16. While much can be done by C.D.Os to influence

departmental decisions by use of local knowledge, the scheme

cannot make its full impact on the formation of policy until

it is capable of rapidly producing briefs for the S.C.A. or

his deputy to use in the many meetings in which they are

involved. The development of this technique has scarcely begun.

17. In the reporting of public opinion a start has been

made in the discipline of preparing weekly a note called TOWN

TALK for limited circulation. Sources from among both the

public and those civil servants in contact with the public are

being slowly extended and it is hoped to develop this attempt

to record public reactions to events and current issues.

18.

The scheme will only win real acceptance from the

Civil Service as it pulls chestnuts out of the fire. Nobody

likes being told by outsiders what to do but a rescue operation

is likely to create respect. Similarly with the public it will

be successful adaptation of government activities to local

circumstances that will count in the long run.

19.

In the field of community service it is hoped that

C.D.Os will be able to make a real contribution by confronting

youthful zeal with social realities and directing their energy

to tackling social problems in some small but meaningful way.

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