Extending local committees in Shropshire: councillors to consider

Councillors will consider introducing six new local committee pilots – which bring local decision-making into the community – at a meeting on Friday 29 February.

Five local committee pilots, known as Action local meetings, have been running in Shropshire since last spring, and council officers are recommending that these continue, and a further six be introduced, during 2008/09.

The Implementation Executive, made up of 29 councillors from the county, borough and district councils, will discuss a report which evaluates the local committee pilots carried out in five areas across Shropshire during 2007/08, along with feedback from the two neighbourhood forum pilots in Shrewsbury.

The report recommends rolling out six more local committees across Shropshire. If councillors agree with the recommendation, the new meetings will be set up covering the following current county council areas:

- Wem and Wem Rural
- Bridgnorth West, Bridgnorth East, Bridgnorth Rural and Morfe
- Corvedale
- Underdale and Monkmoor (Shrewsbury)
- Oswestry
- Rea Valley

The committees have been recognised as giving residents a direct input on local decisions. They have a panel made up of parish and town councillors, as well as local district and county councillors. The aim of the committee is to provide people with a forum to question local decision-makers and raise issues. A budget is provided to each meeting to enhance local services. More local committees are planned to be introduced as the unitary council develops.

The first five pilot committees have been running for almost a year and have spent money on projects such as providing youth club equipment in Broseley, and improving a football pitch in Hinstock.

Member Champions for Local Committees, Councillors Mike Owen and Cecilia Motley, said: “Extending these local committees is a positive step for involving people in decision-making at a local level. They empower residents and give them a real say on issues which affect them.”

25 February 2008