Like this:

GET INVOLVED WITH DEMOCRACY: AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS
(North East and North West Committees held in Grafton House, Ipswich Borough Council: January 11th 2012)

I attended the first two meetings tonight (North East at 5.30pm, North West at 7pm) and, as anticipated, was the only member of the public there; I do concede that these were the very first meetings but even so it proves that none of the previous Area Forum attendees realized that these meetings were even taking place.

Both Committees (and particularly the North East one) queried my right to speak as I live in the South East area. The answer is that these meetings are public meetings and anyone may attend and contribute under Item 6 of the Agenda!

Contributions or questions at other points of the meeting are at the discretion of the Chair, which could be a bit limiting if residents have queries later on in the Agenda.

Without a doubt these Committees are a world away from the informal atmosphere of the area forums but the North West at least are planning informal meetings in addition to the formal Area ones.

The North West councillors are therefore holding an informal meeting next Tuesday 17th January at the Whitehouse Community Centre at 7pm.

The North East will look for a NE location for their next meeting on March 20th

The North West Committee also seemed far more willing to look at non-electronic means of communication, rather than assuming that most people would have easy access to computers/Blackberries etc

I would like to see all Area Committees making use of local radio to publicise meetings and Agendas. There is a statutory requirement to publicise the dates on the IBC website but how many residents know how to access this information??

I have asked that public attendance should be minuted/documented.

All Areas have a budget and this can be carried over from one financial year to another; so it is really important that residents or groups of residents make sure that their councillors are aware of any ideas they have for this community funding.

The libraries are not necessarily excluded from this, so there is an opportunity for groups like the Friends of Westbourne Library to apply for some of the available area allocation.

These committees are also an opportunity to voice concerns about issues that involve a number of Areas eg the proposal to charge community groups, like the Ipswich Furniture Project, a 20% rent of the market value of their premises.

———————————

Note from Ipswich Spy

Area Forum meetings were publicised in the South West by IBC writing to previous attendees and keeping them informed of agendas and minutes. This hasn’t happened for today’s Area Committee meeting for the South West.

IS/MT

Advertisement