Winchester Town Forum to get more powers to represent the town wards
Winchester Town Forum will be asked to step up to the mark and take more responsibility for issues that affect the town wards in a report that is going to Winchester City Council's Cabinet this week (Wednesday 28 March).
There have been calls for a stronger Town Forum from residents and community groups in Winchester and Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr George Beckett is keen for them to make changes. He said, "Winchester Town Forum needs to be a strong 'voice' on behalf of the town and I hope very much that these changes to the constitution will enable them to take on that role. They should have more say in , the budget process and also have the opportunity to scrutinise decisions made that affect the town itself.
"I believe that the Town Forum can be much more effective and have a greater say in matters affecting the Town wards. If these changes are put in place the people of the town of Winchester will feel a benefit. Events such as the future of Winchester debate show that members of the public want to be involved in discussion of important issues and I see that these types of consultation are the way forward for the forum."
For clarity this press release uses the term 'town' to refer to the unparished area represented by the Wards of St Barnabas, St Bartholomew, St John & All Saints, St Luke, St Michael and St Paul - what is traditionally referred to as the old city of Winchester