Letter: Technology opens options for NFDC

May I take issue with your correspondents in last week’s edition regarding the NFDC revamp and full time working by council staff at Appletree Court (Letters 27th Sep)?

As a district councillor I do defend their proposed revamp and long-term strategy of letting the vacant property on an extended lease. It is a sound use of taxpayers’ money.

How did we get here is a more relevant question.

The pandemic changed everything, as your other correspondent alludes to. The world of work is now very different. We aren’t going back there any time soon either, thank goodness.

Fifty years ago when I started in work it was slam-door carriages, useless timetables, busted buses and heaven help you if you were late.

I am now a company director with offices in Chelsea working in shipping and a team of young staff.

Colleagues at the railway call me a ‘TWaT’ – I tend to travel in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Outside of that, I am on Teams a lot with colleagues around the world (or Zoom). I have group chats on WhatsApp. I talk to colleagues elsewhere via Telegram or Viber. I can even call up a ship’s captain via his Starlink dish and talk to him in the middle of the Pacific.

I encourage my staff to do the same. Technology is fabulous these days for staying in touch.

Closer to home, I’ve received answers about housing issues from NFDC officers late in the evening who likewise are working from home. I thank them greatly for their efforts.

That’s why we have the space to be able to let our vacant buildings out.

Office staff don’t sit in serried rows any more like Bob Cratchit.

Cllr Mark Clark

Hythe South