By Adam Postans, LDRS reporter
Four new area committees where residents can confront South Gloucestershire Council leaders and help shape policy are being introduced – after similar meetings under the existing set-up attracted an average of just four attendees.
Householders, town and parish councillors, police, the voluntary sector and community groups will be invited to attend the sessions when the 18-month pilot project launches in May.
The expanded area committees will replace the 14 current ‘community engagement forums’ (CEFs), which will be scrapped, where attendance has plummeted to next to nothing since the pandemic.
Another problem has been that because there are so many CEFs, organisations like Avon & Somerset Constabulary have struggled to attend them.
A cabinet member from the council’s Lib Dem/Labour administration will chair each of the four committees, which will broadly mirror the new parliamentary constituencies and cover Thornbury West & Yate West; Thornbury East and Yate East; Filton and Bradley Stoke; and Bristol North East, North East Somerset and Hanham.
They will not have decision-making powers but the local authority says they are a way of increasing its Community Conversations agenda to truly listen to the voices of the public.
The idea is that residents can speak directly to council leaders so their views can be considered earlier in the process to determine policy and potential service changes.
Opposition Conservative councillors welcomed the proposal, approved by cabinet on Monday, March 10, but questioned the size of the committees’ areas.
Tory group leader Cllr Sam Bromiley said: “What evidence have we followed that’s led us to the area committees model and what would be the measure of success or what outcome would lead you to say this has been value for money?”
Community development and partnerships service director Mark Pullin replied: “Over the last few years we’ve done extensive consultation on the Community Conservation approach.
“Ultimately, however, it will be residents’ satisfaction levels and trust in their ability to influence decision-making of the council which will be a key criteria.”
Council co-leader Cllr Ian Boulton said: “These CEFs have been a bit of a blot on our diary for many of us who’ve attended, knowing that we’re the only ones there, so to have any opportunity to engage in a fuller way with residents and town and parish councils is really welcome.
“This has been a long time coming.”