Braunstone Town Citizens Advisory Panel

The Citizens Advisory Panel is made up of local residents and Councillors and meets approximately four times a year to advise the Council on its existing services and recommend new priorities.

Copies of the agendas and reports for the meeting can be downloaded from the Meetings Calendar.

Date of next Meeting: 30th October 2008 at 7.30pm at the Braunstone Civic Centre.

Delegated Powers and Responsibilities of the Citizens Advisory Panel

The Citizens Advisory Panel shall have authority and consent to:-

a) The Panel will have a duty to involve local residents, user groups and staff to ensure that they have greater opportunities to influence and get involved.

b) The Panel will review the way local residents are informed and consulted.

c) The Panel will be informed by:-

 Questionnaire responses
 Blaby District North Community Forum
 Feedback from Connect Service Shop, Staff, website, etc
 Local Area Agreements
 Braunstone Town Parish Plan
 Braunstone Town Youth Council
 Braunstone Town Watchers
 Uncompleted Capital Projects

d) The Panel will assess needs, identify emerging new priorities, and recommend improvements to existing services. The Panel will also review services at the request of the Council’s Standing Committees.

It will make appropriate recommendations to the Council’s Policy & Resources Committee prior to its Annual Budget meeting.

e) When formulating recommendations the Panel will have due regard to the duty to ‘inform, consult and involve’ set out in the Government’s Guidance ‘Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities’.

f) When making recommendations the Panel will consider Crime & Disorder implications of all the Council’s services and to do all they can to prevent Crime and Disorder in the area.

g) When making recommendations the Panel will have due regard to the need to: a) eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, b) provide equality of opportunity and c) promote good relations between persons of different racial groups.

• That the Town Council’s Community Forum representatives also serve on the Citizens’ Advisory Panel.

Priorities for Citizens Advisory Panel

Following its first meeting the Citizens Advisory Panel has agreed the followign priorities:-

RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAG SCHEME
Investigate costs and other successful schemes

TREE PLANTING
Investigate local tree planting schemes - by taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, trees clean the air and help offset pollution.

PARISH ‘ENERGY CHAMPION’
The search is on for an enthusiastic person to help work out which actions are best for our area and inspire everyone to get involved.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING
The Panel recognised the need to work in partnership to look at ways to tackle climate change. Representatives from Blaby District Council have been invited to attend their next meeting to discuss ways in which we can work together
to progress the Air Quality Action Plan and also use development control as a tool to tackle the problem.

DO YOU HAVE ANY VIEWS?

IN THE MEANTIME EMAIL US VIA THE FEEDBACK FORM ON OUR WEBSITE ON ANY OF THE ISSUES IN THIS ARTICLE.