Gill Kneller
Avoiding a local climate disaster
COP26 may be a global event to tackle climate change, but we need local action too, says Gill Kneller.
Ongoing channel shift is the future
'I think we need to focus on putting more time, effort and thought into our digital channels and only help customers in person when they really need us', says chief executive of East Hampshire DC and Havant BC Gill Kneller.
Our response to COVID was delivered through collaboration, not in isolation
The pandemic has opened up many opportunities for Hampshire DC and Havant BC to work alongside partners from the health service and ensure better outcomes for residents, says Gill Kneller.
On-demand democracy delivered to your door
Gill Kneller has 'always felt that democracy not only needs to be happening but needs to be seen to be happening for our communities to be truly interested in it.'. That is why keeping virtual meetings is critical, she adds.
Our chance is now on climate change
The penalty for not using our new pandemic mindset doesn’t bear thinking about, says Gill Kneller. 'With climate change, there won’t be another chance. Our chance is now', she adds.
Could the Planning White Paper's digital first approach be applied more widely?
Thanks to the pandemic, this year's Planning for the Future White Paper is on-trend, says Gill Kneller. She wonders where else its digital-first approach could be applied 'and what bigger opportunities are there that we could embrace?'
Our council's culture is thriving remotely
With her councils' staff working from home, Gill Kneller says she has 'seen a burst of creativity with staff finding solutions to challenges and embracing completely different ways of doing things - along with different ways of connecting'.
COVID and Brexit call for radical transformation
Havant BC and East Hampshire DC already have a shared chief executive and senior management team and are now looking to build on their already close partnership, says Gill Kneller. 'We need to be radical', she adds.
Taking the ethical route to enforcement
Three years ago East Hampshire DC and Havant BC launched their own ethical trading company aimed at improving the environment, says Gill Kneller - and they're delivering a 'seamless and efficient enforcement service'.
We have an opportunity to re-boot and take stock
Local authorities have by necessity become far more introspective than ever before as they've been forced to consider their own survival, says Gill Kneller.
We need a longer-term strategy on nutrient neutrality
All but a few new housing developments are getting planning permission because of the need for planning authorities in south Hampshire to demonstrate nutrient neutrality, according to Gill Kneller. She says a clear solution is needed.
