Local Government Review will be one of the hot topics up for discussion in Lowestoft and Bungay when WDC hosts its latest community engagement events.

The events, already been hailed a great success in Beccles and Southwold, will be held in the towns during August and will give residents the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on a range of issues, including the review of boundaries in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Historically, ‘Local Area Forums’ have been held to encourage community discussion. They were held quarterly and were a way for local communities, voluntary and community groups and other local organisations such as Waveney District Council, and Suffolk Police to come together to discuss local issues.

In an effort to encourage communities to get more involved in the issues that affect them, the arrangements were reviewed and a series of workshops held to discuss alternative formats that might generate wider interest and increase involvement. After gathering input from a range of stakeholders, it was agreed that there was a need to take a more pro-active approach to community engagement.

As a result, the new Community Engagement Forums will no longer take the form of a formal meeting. They will have a flexible format that will enable organisers to hold them at a wide range of venues, taking the event to the people that matter.

And as well as Local Government Review, local people will be encouraged to give their ideas and thoughts on local issues such as the development of a North Lowestoft Skate Park and the Bungay Town Plan.

The following Community Engagement Events will be held during August:
 
Gunton, Corton, St.Margarets, Normanston, Lothingland, Oulton, Oulton Broad Area:
Wednesday 6 August:
10 am to 12 pm (outside shops, Hollingsworth Road, Gunton) 
1 pm to 3 pm (outside the shops, Gresham Avenue, Oulton)

Bungay and The Saints Area:
Thursday 7 August:
10am to 1pm (the Buttercross in the Market Place)

Harbour and Kirkley Area:
Friday 15 August:
10am to 2pm (Lowestoft town centre)
 
Carlton, Carlton Colville, Kessingland, Pakefield and Whitton Area:
Thursday 21 August:
10am to 12pm (outside shops, Whitton Green, Whitton)
1pm to 3pm time (outside shops, Field Lane, Kessingland)

Stuart Halsey, Community Cohesion Officer with Waveney District Council said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the people of Waveney to come along and get advice or discuss issues and concerns. We want local people to feel comfortable in raising issues that are important to them. Sometimes a formal meeting is not the best way to do this.

“Local Government Review will affect the way services are delivered throughout the district and I have no doubt that it will be one of the key topics for discussion.”

The new Community Engagement Forums now align with the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, who will join Waveney’s local Councillors and officers at the event to offer advice on community safety issues. Funding of up to £500 is still available for voluntary and community groups that wish to apply to their local forum for support and the Grants Co-ordinator will be available to give funding advice on the day.

For further information on Community Engagement Forums, please contact Stuart Halsey, Link Officer (Lowestoft) 01502 523354. Jo McCallum, Link Officer (Rural) 01502 523186.