Template letter to send to your councillors asking about Common Purpose

Dear Councillor [SURNAME]

Council expenditure on Common Purpose courses and the provision of services/accommodation to Common Purpose.

By Common Purpose, I mean the training organisation of that name: http://www.commonpurpose.org

I am concerned about the activities of Common Purpose and their relationship with the council.

Perhaps you could find out the answers to the following questions:

1. Is Common Purpose given any free accommodation or services by the council? If so:

1a. What services/accommodation?

1b. When did the provision of these services/accommodation start?

1c. How much does Common Purpose pay for these services/accommodation?

1d. Who first authorised the provision of these services/accommodation?

1e. What are the actual and perceived benefits to the tax-payer of these services/accommodation?

If the council has spent money on providing Common Purpose with services/accommodation, I am concerned that these provisions are a waste of public money. I think that this money could be spent more wisely (or council tax reduced) instead of being wasted on Common Purpose services/accommodation.

2. Has the council paid for any Common Purpose courses? If so:

2a. Who has been on these courses?

2b. What do the individual courses cost?

2c. Where are these courses held?

2d. Why does the council spend tax payers' money on these courses?

2e. What are the actual and perceived benefits to the tax-payer of these courses?

2f. What is the course syllabus?

2g. Can you obtain copies of any course notes or documentation?

2h. Why are the people who attend these courses are so secretive about what happens on these courses?

2i. What sort of tendering process is involved when these contracts for courses are given to Common Purpose? Are other training companies allowed to compete to provide leadership training courses?

2j. What assessments/results of the courses are put into writing?

2k. These courses are very expensive. Do they represent value for money?

If the council has spent money on Common Purpose courses, I am concerned that these courses are a waste of public money. I think that this money could be spent more wisely (or council tax reduced) instead of being wasted on Common Purpose courses.

Yours faithfully

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR ADDRESS]