Agenda item

Report of Chief Executive (enclosed).

The Executive Member for Customer, Democratic and Legal Services presented a report reviewing the outcome of the Area Forum Pilot Scheme, following the conclusion of the three rounds of meetings in the pilot areas of Clayton-le-Woods North Ward, Coppull Parish and Lostock Ward between February and October 2006.

As a result of the success and positive feedback from the pilot meetings, the Council was recommended to extend the pilot scheme Borough-wide by the introduction of four Community Forums (ie Central, East, South and West) that, collectively, would cover the whole of the Borough.  A plan showing the boundaries and populations of each of the four projected Community Forum areas, and the recommended procedure rules to be applied to the Forums, were appended to the report.

A note summarising the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the proposals had been considered by the Executive Members.  The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had expressed reservations, in particular on the size of the projected Community Forum footprints and the division and linkage of Parish Councils between the four Forum areas.  The report indicated that in this context, the Member for Customer, Democratic and Legal Services clarified that the Community Forum concept was aimed at enhancing and complementing Parish Councils and the it had been confirmed at the Executive Cabinet that the Community Forum footprint would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The report pointed out that after taking account of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s views, the Executive Cabinet supported the proposals for the introduction of four Community Forums and recommended the Council to authorise the appropriate implementation procedures.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Edgerley and seconded by Councillor A Gee.

“To have 6 Area Forums that meet twice per year.

The six areas to be:

?       Rural West comprising Lostock and Eccleston and Mawdesley.

?       South West comprising Chisnell and Coppull

?       South East comprising Adlington and Anderton and Heath Charnock and Rivington.

?       Central as shown on the submitted map.

?       North West comprising Euxton North, Euxton South and Astley Village and Buckshaw.

?       East comprising Clayton-le-Woods West and Cuerden, Clayton-le-Woods North, Clayton-le-Woods and Whittle-le-Woods, Brindle and Hoghton, Wheelton and Withnell and Pennine”.

The amendment was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it lost.

RESOLVED – 1) That 4 Community Forums be established as the footprint as set out in the submitted report with effect from February 2007, together with the enclosed draft terms of reference for the Forums.

2)      That it be noted that, in accordance with Paragraph 27.2 of the Council’s Procedure Rules, the following recommendation be adjourned without further discussion to the next Ordinary Council meeting on 23 January 2007.

“To authorise the addition of the text of the Community Forum Procedure Rules, as outlined in the addendum to the submitted Chief Executive’s report, to the Council Procedure Rules set out in Part A of Appendix 3 to the Council’s Constitution”.

3)      That the next Ordinary meeting of the Council on 23 January 2007 considers the appointment of a Chair of all the 4 Community Forums and the appointment of a Vice-Chair for each for each of the separate Community Forums.