Community make use of community forums
The upcoming Community Forum meetings in Henley/Studley, Shipston/Stour and Stratford are set for success after other meetings across the district have got off to a great start.
With the second round of the new community forums now well underway, people have already raised local issues and concerns including:-
facilities and activities for young people (raised by young people)
access to Birch Abbey, Alcester (petition submitted by residents)
lack of transport for young people
funding for flood prevention and,
emphasis on local councils to air their voice and ask manufacturers to use less packaging with regards the new recycling scheme
All partners and agencies will be working together to resolve these issues and reports back on progress will go to the next round of meetings to be held in February 2009.
Warwickshire County Councillor Peter Fowler, Portfolio Holder for Partnerships and Localities, said: “Community Forums are an opportunity for you, the residents, to raise local issues that are of concern to you and are a way of giving you a say on how services are delivered and how they can be improved.
“We want to find out what is of importance to you in your local area and how we, and other public agencies, can work better together to improve, simplify and offer the best value in services that are delivered to you".
With forum meetings in Henley/Studley (Wednesday 26 November) Shipston/Stour (Tuesday 2 December) and Stratford (Wednesday 3 December) still to take place, this is an opportunity for everyone to attend, contribute and have their say.
Les Topham, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council commented: “Our Council is committed to working closely with those that live and work in the district. These forums give local people the opportunity to discuss the issues that are really important to them. I hope that they will become a major source of influence on the future plans within Local Government, Police, Health and other public services”.
There is also an opportunity for residents to attend a local surgery before the main meeting where specific issues can be raised with a police officer or council representative.
Chief Superintendent David Whitehouse, Head of Community Protection for Warwickshire said: "Warwickshire Police is pleased to be a partner in the Community Forum process. Safer Neighbourhoods is all about accessible local officers who are working with the community.
“Most people won’t visit a police station to have a private informal chat about something that is causing them concern but the one to one surgery before the Community Forum gives people the chance to do exactly that - to talk about local issues with local officers. We strongly believe that stronger communities are safer communities and Community Forums are a means to achieve this."