Councillors in Bolton have had their say about the new council proposal to scrap Area Forums and introduce Community Alliances.

Bolton Council are looking at new ways of working with local communities and have recently opened their 'Have your say on Area Working' consultation which proposes to replace Area Forums with Community Alliances.

Both Sean Hornby, Little Lever and Darcy Lever Ward Councillor and Roger Hayes, Smithills Ward Councillor, say they are agree with the new proposal because area forums are becoming outdated.

Cllr Sean Hornby said area forums used to be effective but they are now not fit for purpose because they are attended by the same people and have been reduced considerably.

He said: "The area forums have been around for a very long time and they started becoming one a year, they used to be three times a year.

"It's been felt for a number of years that area forums are not working, they are being attended by the same people and the idea of the community alliances allows more involvement with communities.

"Area forums are not fit for purpose now. Personally I don't have a problem with the new proposal.

"In Little Lever I work regularly with residents anyway and we can still hold public meetings if we want to but currently area forums are not doing what they used to."

Cllr Roger Hayes also had the same feelings, although he said it would be a shame to see them go.

He said: "I think it's a pity they are being scrapped. I think it's a cost cutting exercise but area forums have definitely run their course, there is no continuity and there certainly needs to be a rethink.

"I need to talk to my group before going into detail but I do definitely think area forums have run their course.

"There are not enough people attending them and we do need to find a way to communicate with communities going forward."

According to the council, community alliances will give "people greater opportunity to set the agenda in their local area, influencing change at the grass roots of society in accessible, flexible and engaging ways".

The community alliances aim to get councils closer to communities so it can work with them to achieve great community spirit and solve problems faster.

If you would like to have your say on the new scrapping of area forums and the introduction of community alliances, go to https://bit.ly/Area_Working.