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Council documents

How to write an advisory report

Getting started on an advisory report can be daunting, especially when the topic is complex or unfamiliar. There's a tricky stage to navigate...

LTP documents

Find your way into your AMP Review

You've just recovered from the last one, and now the next AMP review is due. Can you relate to this scenario? The pressure's...

Council documents

The AMP Sandwich

I gave a talk about AMP writing last year – focusing on the parts that I help with, which are at the beginning...

AI toolsCommunity engagement

Case Study: Review of a Communications Plan

AI tools, Community engagement Pauline Webby is a Senior Water & Wastewater Planning Advisor who used the Community Engagement Planning tools to review her...

AI toolsCommunity engagement

Create Better Consultation Documents by Starting with the Options

One way to build a consultation document is from the ground up – reviewing the source documents, thinking about the topic and drafting the...

Community engagement

Create Community Engagement Plans That Work With Your Natural Strengths

Community engagement Does the term ‘community engagement’ make you want to run for the hills or dive right in? Your reaction is likely...

AI toolsPolicies

How to use AI at your council – without getting into trouble

Who doesn't want faster analysis, sharper insights, and better use of your time? But many council staff, and consultants who deliver projects for...

Book reviews

Fresh thinking for 2025: Seven ways to have more ideas

'The Imagination Muscle' by Albert Read discusses where good ideas come from, and how to have more of them.  Here are my key...

Editing

Editing quiz

This quiz covers some of the less obvious ways we can improve our writing at the editing stage, as outlined in ‘Editing Made...

Editing

Editing quiz – answers

Check your answers to the editing quiz. (The correct answers are shown in bold.) Use verbs instead of nouns, where possible. 1A      Using...