Leicestershire residents help shape local services

Published by Jane Gething-Lewis for Leicestershire County Council in Communities and also in Local Government

PRESS RELEASES

Brand new meetings in Charnwood are giving residents the chance to have a hand in shaping local services.

Area Forums are a new kind of event allowing people to influence local decision-making and speak out about issues which are important to them.

The meetings enable residents to find out about bigger issues affecting the community, obtain answers to queries and help shape services available.

At the four Charnwood forums, people can find out about what is being done to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, plans for Watermead Country Park and information on community facilities.

Anyone with a query about a local issue such as speeding, community facilities and housing plans can also go along and quiz people in a 'Question Time' session.

Representatives from local authorities, the police and NHS will be on hand to talk about services and answer questions - all people need to do to take part is turn up.

These four forums follow three which have already taken place in Loughborough.

David Parsons, Leader of the County Council, said: "It is very important that people have the opportunity to influence the public services they receive.

"Area Forums give everybody in Charnwood the chance to meet their elected representatives and to 'have their say' about how local services can be improved.

"Please come along and tell us how we can help you."

Councillor Richard Shepherd, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: "Area Forums are designed to provide a 'one-stop-shop' for people to talk to representatives of local services.

"All of us involved in organising them really hope that local residents will come along to tell us their views and concerns.

Chief Superintendent Daimon Tilley, Commander of the North Area, said: "The police welcome the opportunity to work with a variety of agencies to listen to, and address, the concerns of local residents on a range of neighbourhood management issues.

"Area Forums play a vital role in making neighbourhoods safer, greener and stronger. The information we get from the Forums, alongside the information we gather during our own consultation process, is very valuable as it helps us target our resources and it influences our policing priorities."

The four Area Forums are:

- Shepshed, Hathern and Dishley Forum - 7pm, Monday, 18th February - Oxley Primary School, Thorpe Road, Shepshed
Main topic = 'Crime - what is the current situation?'
- Quorn, Barrow, Sileby and the Wolds Forum - 6.30pm, Tuesday, 26th February - Sileby Parish Council Offices
Main topic = 'Rural crime'
- Bradgate, Rothley, Mountsorrel and Birstall Forum - 6.30pm, Wednesday, 27th February - Rothley Centre, Rothley
Main topics = 'Crime and anti-social behaviour' and 'Connect 2 lottery bid'
- Thurmaston, Syston and Wreake Villages Forum - 7.30pm, Wednesday, 12th March - Elizabeth Park, Thurmaston
Main topics = 'Crime and anti-social behaviour and provision of community facilities'

For more information, please call 0116 305 5823 or visit www.leicestershireforums.org.