SCARBOROUGH Council's area commitees have been given new powers to control dispersal orders and traffic regulations.
The changes, which came into effect at the beginning of last month, are intended to stop people thinking area committees solely concern themselves with grant funding various projects.
The council set up four area committees seven years ago but “un
fortunately the potential for area committees to take on an executive role on local issues has not been realised” said a report drawn up by two senior officials.
“The opportunity for members to promote proposals through the advisory/consultative role has been limited. Instead, the work of the committees has become very largely grant driven,” said Ian Anderson, head of legal and democratic services and David Archer, strategic director of operations.
The Government has also produced a document proposing byelaws should be approved locally.
The plans also envisage closer working relationships between councillors, the new area forums and the area committees as well as parish councils.
In the Government’s White Paper “councils are encouraged to put integration and cohesion at the heart of community strategies. By integrating the work of area committees with that of parish councils there is an opportunity to develop cohesion through a two-way dialogue,” they say.
The full article contains 211 words and appears in Whitby Gazette Friday newspaper.
