Issue - meetings

Ian Hesketh

Ian Hesketh, Green Spaces Manager, reported that Cheshire West and Chester Council had resolved to withdraw from the Cheshire Local Access Forum and were seeking to establish an independent Local Access Forum for the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester.

As the recruitment for the membership for the present Cheshire Local Access Forum was due to take place soon, it was considered an opportunity to pursue arrangements for a new Cheshire West and Chester Local Access Forum.

The benefits and advantages of having a Local Access Forum for Cheshire West and Chester were outlined as:

• provide a greater degree of focus upon relevant access matters specific to the Borough avoiding dilution across a wider geographical area
• broad representation of the varied cross section of interests attached to access and recreation focused upon the Borough area
• potential to increase level of local targeted forum activities and tangible outcomes
• development of a more innovative and dynamic approach to Forum business that reflected the Council’s corporate objectives and aligned with the ‘Altogether Better’ agenda
• locally distinctive branding providing greater opportunity to engage with local communities and prospective stakeholders

Forum members expressed concern that no discussions about this decision had been held with the Chairman and members of the Cheshire Local Access Forum before today’s meeting and asked that an urgent meeting be held between officers from Cheshire West and Chester Council and a group of Forum member made up of Andy Gildon, Helen Connolly and Bob Anderson.

RESOLVED:

That the Forum regrets the intention of Cheshire West and Chester Council to leave the Cheshire Local Access Forum, and that an urgent meeting be requested to discuss the issues.