St Albans City & District Council’s Cabinet is to consider recommendations from the City Forum for a way of delivering ‘localism’ in the city of St Albans. Cabinet will consider the recommendations at its next meeting on 18 October.
Across the district, parish councils represent local people at close quarters. With no parish council in the city area, the City Forum can play an important role in local representation of residents.
The enactment of the Localism Act 2011 has presented a number of opportunities for local people and organisations to take on more control of localities and amenities. The City Forum, recognising the new circumstances, is proposing a number of changes to the way it works.
Cllr Beric Read, as Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at the Council, set up a working group to develop options for the future of the City Forum. This working group was chaired by Cllr Michael Green.
Cabinet is now being asked to consider the working group’s report.
The report proposes various new ways of working. The City Forum’s proposed governance, its key functions and proposals for supporting neighbourhood forums (which emerged as part of the Localism Act), are all considered. The report proposes local oversight of local assets such as parks, playgrounds and war memorials in the city area.
Cllr Beric Read, commented: “The City Forum is seeking Cabinet’s comments on ideas for more local involvement in what happens in the unparished area of St Albans city. The Council is looking to give residents in the city some of the benefits of a Parish Council, without creating a new layer of local government. The City Forum’s recommendations, to be considered by Cabinet, set out proposals for how this can be done in the future.”
Cabinet meets on Thursday 18 October in the Council Chamber beginning at 7pm. The Agenda and papers for the meeting are available at: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=6930&Ver=4. Everyone is welcome to attend. The meeting can also be followed by webcast either live or after the event. The webcast is available at: http://www.stalbans.public-i.tv/core/
Councillor contact: Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism at St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 07956 220264, Email: cllr.b.read@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media: Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819572, E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk
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Information about the role and membership of St Albans City Forum can be found at: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=147