Leyland residents invited to new-style council meeting

10:50pm Friday 4th July 2008

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South Ribble Borough Council has revitalised its area committees – and residents in West Leyland will be the first to try their new committee out for size when it meets next week.

Following a review of how it engages with local people, the council has made several improvements to breathe new life into its area committees.

Thanks to the changes, it’s easier than ever before for local people to get involved in making decisions that affect their neighbourhoods.

Keen to get their newly revamped area committees off to a good start, the ward councillors who make up each committee are challenging local residents to join them over the coming months to share their views on what makes their neighbourhood tick, what are the key issues in their area and how money should be spent locally.

The first of South Ribble’s six newly revamped area committees will bring residents in West Leyland together on Thursday 10 July to discuss issues including proposals to create a single track for horses, cyclists and pedestrians through Nixon’s Wood; speeding traffic on Dunkirk Lane and an update on policing in the area.

The committee will also consider planning applications for developments in the area, along with local issues raised by residents who attend the committee.

Immediately before the West Leyland area committee starts, its eight ward councillors will host a 30 minute drop-in surgery so that residents can raise their individual concerns face to face with their councillor.

This is just one of a series of new measures to be introduced in a bid to make area committees more interactive and less formal.

The surgery sessions will initially be trialled at both West Leyland and Central area committees, following which a decision will be taken over whether to roll out surgery sessions to all six areas in South Ribble.

Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member with responsibility for corporate and support services, said: “I live in and represent people in the West Leyland area so I know that local people do care about what goes on here.

"Residents have told me that they do want to know what’s going on locally, how decisions are being made and how they can influence what’s happening in their own neighbourhood – and that’s exactly what our area committees are here for.

“I urge everyone who takes pride in their community, or cares about what’s going on in West Leyland, to come and join us on 10 July.”

The West Leyland Area Committee will take place from 7pm on Thursday 10 July at Leyland Baptist Church in Leyland Lane.

Residents who live in the Moss Side, Earnshaw Bridge, Seven Stars and Wade Hall areas are encouraged to attend.

Local councillors will host a drop-in surgery session from 6.30pm.

Refreshments will be provided. Agendas are available online at www.southribble.gov.uk.