Westminster Council Area Forums

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Method(s) Used

Area Forums (Methods)

Name of person who posted the project:

Karin Gavelin (Involve)

Location of project:

United Kingdom

Date when the project started:

Date when the project ended/project ongoing:

Background to project:

Westminster City Council is committed to involving local residents and businesses in local policy decisions and to finding out what they think about the Council and the services we provide. Area Forums provide their members with:

information on Council services and Council policies affecting the local area
the opportunity for residents to give their input on issues that affect their neighbourhood
a mechanism for residents to have their say on any issue related to Council business
actions raised and monitored from feedback

Purpose of project:

The Area Forums enable the City Council to gain a better understanding of the issues and priorities which matter to residents. This helps them to meet local needs and improve local services.

Project activities:

Each Area Forum covers between 2 and 5 electoral wards. The forums, which are held on a regular basis (approximately every four months) run from 7pm to 8pm in the evening. The Chairman of each Area Forum is a local Councillor nominated by the Leader of the Council.

A surgery is held from 6.30pm to 7pm at the same venue as the main meeting. This gives residents the opportunity to speak to a Council Officer about any Council service issues that require attention.

Residents do not have to be a member of Area Forums to attend but are encouraged to join so that the Council can keep them updated about meetings and, importantly, what happens as a direct result of their input.

Project results:

A Chief Officer attends each meeting and ensures that the recommendations made are properly fed back into the Council's decision-making processes. Any outcomes are reported to Area Forum members either on an individual basis or via the Area Forum newsletter, which are sent out to members after each meeting.

If the Council cannot answer a query in full on the evening they will commit to providing an answer after the meeting.

Contact details:

Westminster City Council
P.O. Box 240
Westminster City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP

Switchboard: 020 7641 6000

Area Forum website: http://www.westminster.gov.uk/councilgovernmentanddemocracy/democraticprocessesandevents/areaforums/

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