Forums shake-up

RESIDENTS in Huntingdonshire are being encouraged to give their views on a proposed shake-up to neighbourhood forums.

Huntingdonshire District Council has launched a sixweek consultation over its plans which would see neighbourhood forums become “local joint committees” consisting of town and parish councillors and district and county members.

The number of forums, which exist to give residents somewhere to bring their ideas, issues and comments about their community, would increase from five to nine under the plans.

The district council lists as its aims: to promote the localism agenda, extend the remit and responsibilities of the existing neighbourhood forums, enhance the effective- ness of the neighbourhood forums, enable there to be greater flexibility to operate in a way that suits local need and enable local democratic decision making on a range of possible issues.

It is intended that the new arrangements would launch in September 2012, with a review of them to be undertaken after they have been in operation for 12 months.

The consultation runs until Friday, June 8.

To comment on the proposals write to the chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-being) c/o Miss H. Ali, Democratic Services, Pathfinder House, St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN or email Democratic.services@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.

For details visit www. huntingdonshire.gov.uk.