To receive feedback on the January 2005 round of meetings and to consider the re-naming of the Local Area Forums.

THAT

(a)               the report be noted;

(b)               the change of name from Local Area Forums to Community Forums be endorsed;

(c)               Forum Chairmen be notified of the date Forum Reports will be submitted to Cabinet.

It was agreed that issues raised and discussed at Local Area Forum meetings should be relayed to Cabinet after each round of meetings.

Re-naming the Local Area Forums was proposed after recent discussions with the Leader of the Council.  The title Local Area Forum has lent itself to the unfortunate acronym “lafs”, and it was felt that this gave a wrong impression of the purpose and status of the Forums.  For the Forums to attract a substantial number of people, as is hoped, it is important to convey the message that they have a serious purpose in informing and consulting the community on Council matters affecting them.

N/A