Area committees
In order to give members of the public a greater say in council affairs, the Council has established five area committees, which are responsible for a wide range of local services. Area committees involve members of the Council elected to serve for the area covered by the committee and are held in public.
Each Area Committees has, in turn, set up Neighbourhood Forums within its area, based on natural local communities. Neighbourhood Forums do not have a formal membership - any local resident can attend and can make comments or suggestions on Council services.
Area Committees exist to support local communities and act as a two-way means of communication between the local community, the Council and other agencies; they focus upon and encourage community development, co-ordinate consultation with the community, take up issues on behalf of the community/Neighbourhood Forums, take local initiatives to encourage and support local communities and work in partnership with local communities and other agencies.
Each Area Committee has a staff of Area Co-ordinator, Assistant Area Co-ordinator and support staff. The Committees also hold small local budgets for Environmental Improvements, small grants for local initiatives and some elements of Highway Maintenance (Area Committees are consulted upon other highway minor works and road safety schemes which are funded from centrally held budgets).
