Local Area Forums
The Council has six Local Area Forums, one for each of the District's parished areas and one for the unparished area. Meetings normally occur twice yearly during June and October, the months considered to attract the greatest public attendance. Exceptions are Chorleywood and Sarratt Area Forums, originally comprising one single joint Forum, which now meet separately and alternately (each one meeting once a year only). Rickmansworth Area Forum (unparished area) meets on a third occasion in February. Venues are rotated around the respective areas to ensure maximum access.
The Local Area Forum is a consultative/advisory body which itself has no decision-making powers. Its dual purpose is to provide an opportunity for the public to raise matters of concern and interest and to express their views and to provide the Council with a platform to explain its position, policies and plans.
Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Forums are elected at Annual Council. The particular Ward Councillors appointed to each Forum are those that represent the relevant Wards within each parished (or unparished) area. County Councillors who represent the relevant areas may also be in attendance. Council Officers attend meetings as warranted by agenda items but, aside from the Committee Manager, officer attendance is kept to a minimum in order to maintain the emphasis on direct interaction between the public and Councillors.
A wide range of methods of advertising meetings is employed including the following:
- Three Rivers Times
- Direct mail to interested parties/organisations
- Local noticeboards
- Libraries
- Community newsletters and posters
- Banners (at venues)
Agendas are despatched approximately two weeks in advance of the meeting. The Chairman agrees the content of the agenda for the meeting. Notes of the meeting are sent to those members of the public who have completed self-addressed envelopes at the meeting and are available from the Democratic Services section.
Details of previous and forthcoming Local Area Forum meetings can be viewed on the Council Meetings pages