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ITEM EX8 - ANNEX 1

EXECUTIVE – 18 MAY 2004

LOCAL AREA WORKING: "RESPONDING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES"

Decisions of the County Council on 13 January 2004

      1. in the context of the Joint South Oxfordshire Area Forums:

                1. to continue the area forum relationship with South Oxfordshire District Council in its present format until the end of the financial year 2003/04;

                2. that the aims and objectives of the forums be redefined to focus on engaging with town and parish councils and elected members;

                3. that, subject to further investigation, the frequency of meetings be reduced to no more than three per year per forum, and no less than one per year per forum;

                4. that South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council investigate how the geographical areas of the forums might be revised;

                5. that the South Oxfordshire Area Forums process should work with the Local Strategic Partnerships;

                6. that, when the arrangements for a revised format had been drawn up, it run for a period of one year from April 2004 to March 2005;

                7. to ask the Executive to consider allocating funding to operate the South Oxfordshire Area Forums;

                8. to agree in principle that the forums be re-evaluated in March 2005 in the context of the County Council’s wider approach to Local Area Working; and

                9. to consult the residents of South Oxfordshire through the Citizen’s Panel;

        and

      2. in the context of wider issues emerging from the Pilot to:

(j) clarify and promote its strategy for consulting and engaging with the public recognising that local area forums could only be part of the solution;

(k) hold further discussions with all 5 District Councils in Oxfordshire to discuss the outcomes of the pilot with South Oxfordshire District Council, explore good practice and explore options for joint local area working with the other districts and to report on progress to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee within six months; and

(l) develop a consistent and sustainable approach to communicating effectively and appropriately with parish and town councils across the County.

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