Giving local people a say

01-MAR-10

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

North Tyneside Council is asking the borough's residents to let them know how they would like their local area to be improved.

The council has relaunched four Area Forums where local resident and councillors will work together to decide how their area of the borough can be improved.

As part of this, the council has asked people to submit their ideas - including which roads and pavements might need to be repaired.

They can do this by filling in a leaflet, which has gone to all homes in the borough, or at local libraries, community centres, customer service centres and leisure centres.

There is also an easy-to-complete form on the council's website or people can phone (0191) 643 2828, or email areaforum@northtyneside.gov.uk

The Area Forums will consider these ideas and will make recommendations on how their budget should be spent to deliver improvements to the local area.

Cllr Pam McIntyre, cabinet member for Community Engagement, said: "We want local people to be at the heart of how the council delivers its services.

"The Area Forums will help ensure that elected members and local communities are able to have a say on what goes on in their local area.

"The new forums start this month and we are keen for as many local people as possible to feed their ideas in."

The Area Forums will meet every three months, covering the areas of North West of the borough, Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend. They will start in March and the meetings are as follows:

- North West Area Forum, Tuesday 2 March, 6pm to 8pm, at the Lakeside Centre, Southgate Killingworth

- Wallsend Area Forum, Wednesday 3 March, 6pm to 8pm, at Wallsend Town Hall, High Street East

- Whitley Bay Area Forum, Tuesday 23 March, 6pm to 8pm, Whitley Bay Baptist Church

- North Shields Area Forum, Wednesday 31 March, 6pm to 8pm, at the Saville Exchange, Howard Street, North Shields.

ENDS

Information for editors:

Membership for the forums will be made up of the ward councillors for that area, with a chair and deputy chair appointed each June for a 12-month period.

The wards, which fall into each of the Area Forum areas, are as follows:

- North West - Weetslade, Camperdown, Longbenton, Benton, Killingworth.
- Whitley Bay - Valley, St Mary's, Monkseaton North, Monkseaton South, Whitley Bay.
- Wallsend - Northumberland, Wallsend, Battle Hill, Howdon, and part of Riverside
- North Shields - Collingwood, Chirton, Cullercoats, Tynemouth, Preston, and part of Riverside.