RESIDENTS across Tameside will soon have new opportunities to influence decisions affecting their towns as a revamped programme of Community Forums launches this month.
The new forums, which replace the borough’s previous Neighbourhood Forums, are intended to strengthen links between residents, councillors and community organisations while providing a platform for people to raise concerns, discuss local priorities and help shape future investment.
The first meetings will begin on June 17 and will be held across five forum areas covering all nine towns in the borough.
As well as discussing local and borough-wide issues, the forums will play a role in shaping bids for the Pride in Place Impact Fund during their first year. The fund is expected to support small and medium-sized projects aimed at improving town centres, public spaces and community facilities.
Residents attending the meetings will be able to put questions forward, hear updates from local partners and community groups, and contribute views on proposals that could influence future funding decisions.
The initiative follows feedback gathered from residents and councillors, including comments made during the council’s Cabinet in the Community events held last year.
Tameside Council’s Executive Leader, Cllr Eleanor Wills, said: “Everyone is welcome to attend the Community Forums – our aim is to bring people together to influence and support decision-making in their towns and give residents the opportunity to have their say on how funding is allocated.
“We really want to work in partnership with our communities and listen to what’s important to them. We’ve taken on board feedback from residents, including what they told us at public sessions such as the Cabinet in the Community sessions we held last autumn, and I hope the Community Forums will help them to get involved and help us to work together to improve local areas and opportunities for everyone.”
Meetings will be held three times a year and will rotate between venues to ensure each town hosts a forum.
The first round of meetings will take place at:
- Denton – Wednesday, June 17, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Tameside Wellness Centre
- Droylsden and Audenshaw – Thursday, June 18, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Guardsman Tony Downes House, Droylsden
- Ashton and Mossley – Monday, June 22, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at St Ann’s Social Centre on Burlington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
- Stalybridge and Dukinfield – Tuesday, June 23, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Stalybridge’s Victoria Market Hall
- Hyde and Longdendale – Wednesday, June 24, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Newton Suite in Hyde Town Hall
Further information, including future meeting dates and details on how residents can submit questions, is available via Tameside Council’s website.