Quick Guide to Your Community Forum

Aim

To provide local communities (residents and organisations) an opportunity to contribute to local decision making to create better services and improvements for their areas.

Key principles

Listening and responding to community needs; mutual trust and openness; transparency and accountability; prudent use of resources; equality of access and opportunity for all.  The objective is informed collective decision making; good behaviour and respect for others.

Partnership approach

A partnership of public agencies, town and parish councils, local businesses, traders, social enterprises, education and training providers, voluntary organisations, charities, community groups, residents’ associations and ward councillors. This will be based upon co-operation and goodwill and two way relationship with the Local Strategic Partnership, the Area Partnership Board, their other action teams and partnership boards.

Local democracy

Promoting resident participation in their area and services; supported by councillors as community leaders with a Chair / Vice Chair agreed each year by councillors.

Council support

Area Manager, Neighbourhood Co-ordinators, Community Safety Wardens and Community Development Officers with officers from the council’s democratic services and other relevant service areas; to facilitate local projects, encourage improvements to services through neighbourhood management, provide administration for Member budgets.

Partners Role

Working together on joint initiatives, projects and services; making funding meet local needs and reporting back to the Community Forum.

Budget

First point of response from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Petitions

First point of response from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Action focussed

Action Plan to be developed based on local evidence and residents' priorities; with clear purposes and agreed targets for action, monitoring, reviewing and reporting on performance, progress and success.