Neighbourhood Forum 2 recently folded and advised WCC of this. With Alice Cartan standing down as Convenor of NF3 to contest the Council election there is also no NF for that area as well.
This means there is no NF for an area which covers Clifton, Coalcliff, Coledale, Maddens Plains, Scarborough, Wombarra, Austinmer, Bulli, Thirroul and Woonona. This will remain the case for at least some months to come.
To me this points to serious shortcomings in the present Council-community consultation process. We require properly constituted and properly resourced Precinct Committees (as committees of Council) to carry conduct important community business.
Here is the WCC reply to my message asking what action WCC would be taking to ensure important community business could continue to be done:
Dear Bruce
Neighbourhood Forums
I am writing in response to your letter raising concerns over the closure of the Neighbourhood Forum Two group who have until recently met at Coledale.
It is indeed regrettable that this group is no longer meeting. My understanding is that numbers had declined and that members were not willing to stand as Convenor. As an independent community group this is their decision to make but a sad one as they had operated for a long time and we enjoyed consulting with them.
At this stage we will not be looking to intervene to establish a new group in area two. The Wollongong 2011-14 Management Plan lists a review of Council’s Community Consultation Policy as a key project for 2011-12. We adopted a revised Policy in 2010 with a review date of 2012 and it was always our intention to review that Policy with the newly elected Council. As you know the policy sets out a number of key activities and engagement methods used by Council. We have always been very clear that the Neighbourhood Forums are one of many ways we engage with the community.
Council has consulted the community at forum meetings on a number of topics including Dogs on Beaches, and Management Plans as well as running kiosks at events, drop in information sessions and online surveys on the same topics. Neighbourhood Forums are a valuable way we work with the community but in the absence of Neighbourhood Forum Two there are many other ways the community can contribute. Should a group of residents seek to reform the Neighbourhood Forum Council staff will support it as per the current policy.
Should the Neighbourhood Forum remain dormant I would encourage yourself and all other interested community members to engage with Council through our other engagement activities, our customer service centre, phone, letter or email. You are also welcome to attend the Neighbourhood Forum at Helensburgh. The Thirroul Forum is not currently meeting but has not folded, if a member will come forward to stand for election as Convenor then their meetings will resume.
Please contact me if you would like more information.
(name deleted- BR)
Engagement Coordinator
Wollongong City Council
Date 21 July 2011
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