What Are Community Forums?

Following two successful pilot events in Alfreton and Belper, Amber Valley Borough Council has rolled out Local Community Forum events across the Borough. 

A Borough-wide network of five Local Community Forums has been established – one for each of the main towns in the Borough and their surrounding area, and one for the rural area forming the western part of the Borough.   An evening event is planned in various locations during the Autumn 2007, with five more events planned for the Spring of 2008 and late Summer 2008.

The purpose of Local Community Forums is to:-

• Link the key partner organisations with local people and their representatives
• Promote participation in proposals and decisions
• Improve the quality of life of people living and working in the area
• Ensure local equality of opportunity
• Consider matters of local concern

Who is Involved?

Amber Valley Borough Council’s primary partner in relation to Local Community Forums is Derbyshire County Council.  Other key partners include Derbyshire Police, the Primary Care Trust, the Amber Valley Partnership, Parish Councils and the Amber Valley Council for Voluntary Services.

Local groups and other organisations, including members of the Amber Valley Consultation Panel, are invited to attend the Forums.  

The Borough Council actively encourages young people to become involved with the Forums.   Schools in the Borough have been contacted and encouraged to nominate student representatives to act as links between their school and the Local Community Forums. 

What happens at a Local Community Forum?

The event will start at 7pm until 8.30pm

Light refreshments will be provided before the event starts

A member of the Amber Valley Borough Council’s Cabinet will lead the event.

Representatives of key partners will be in attendance

The event will consist of four main core sections, although the Programme may be extended to take into account particular local issues:

• One to one session -  when Councillors, officers and other representatives will be available to discuss individual concerns with residents
• Question and answer session – when questions submitted will be considered and a response given.  If it is not possible for a response to be provided at the meeting, a written response will be provided within five working days
• Feedback session – when feedback and updates on issues raised at the last Local Community Forum for that area can be considered
• Reflections – when you can indicate your thoughts on the event and your thoughts and topics for future events.

Your Local Community Forum is not the place for discussing planning applications or local licensing applications.  This is because there are already well-defined public consultation and appeal procedures in place for these matters.

What happens after the Local Community Forum?

If you have submitted a question or comment, you will receive a written response within ten working days.

A short feedback report will be produced for the Amber Valley Borough Council’s Cabinet.

An action-monitoring sheet will be produced, showing the status of items raised at the Forum

The Key Partners will produce a ‘You Said We Did’ document once a year to highlight how they are responding to issues raised at the events.

Do You have a question to ask
or an issue to raise?