Lib Dems Open up Council to the Public (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Open up Council to the Public

April 21, 2004 5:54 PM

Lib Dems propose Public Question Times and Council meetings held in the heart of local communities in order to boost public interest in the way Leeds City Council is run. Councillor Mark Harris, Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council, will put a White Paper to next week's full meeting of Leeds City Council proposing fundamental changes to allow greater public participation in its meetings.

Cllr Harris said "Some incredibly important issues affecting the lives of Leeds people are discussed in Council meetings, but many people are put off from attending. This is partly because of the lack of opportunity for them to have a say, and also because most people can't get to the Civic Hall on a Wednesday afternoon. The Council needs to do much more to open itself up to the public - that's why I'm proposing two improvements that Liberal Democrats would like to implement following the elections in June".

"Firstly, I'm calling for 'Public Question Times' at Council Meetings. These have been very successful for other Councils in giving people an opportunity to put their point of view across."

"Also, I'd like to see every other Council Meeting held in locations across the City, and in the evenings. Over the course of the year that would mean that most citizens of Leeds will get an opportunity to attend if they wish."

"Many people in Leeds feel that the Council is out of touch with what's going on around the City. While I understand that some people feel this way, I think they'd change their minds if they were given more opportunity to participate in Meetings."