1/9/2004 - Councillors hit the road : Cumbria County Council

Barrow's county councillors are taking to the road in an open-top, double-decker bus to hear what residents have to say about local services and issues. The idea springs from the highly successful Have Your Say Day which was held by Barrow Local Committee of Cumbria County Council in 2002. The Have Your Say Bus will visit every ward in Barrow and Dalton over two days on 14 and 15 September.

Councillor Alan Nicholson, chair of Barrow Local Committee, said:

"This will take Cumbria County Council and other local agencies right into the heart of our local communities to listen to people's views and concerns.

"It is another innovative step taken by the Barrow local committee under its policy of making every effort to make ourselves more accessible, to increase public participation and to give residents greater opportunities to influence local decision-making."

Joining county council members and officers on the bus will be officers from Barrow Borough Council’s environmental health and housing departments and Cumbria Police’s local policing teams.

Issues raised by residents will all be entered on a database to enable council officers to keep track on how they are being dealt with. As actions are taken, a letter will be sent from the relevant ward councillor updating the resident on their issue.

The database will also enable officers to see any pattern of similarities in the issues raised across wards or across the whole borough. Where necessary neighbourhood forums can be organised for wider discussion of any topics of wide concern.

The timetable for the bus over the two days has been designed to give the best route around the district. It will be adjusted for any future Have Your Say buses in the light of experience. The open-top, double decker bus is being supplied by Clarkson Coachways of Barrow.

The Have Your Say Bus follows on from the Have Your Say Day organised by Barrow Local Committee in November 2002. The event attracted 100 members of the public to the Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, Barrow, despite bad weather. About 150 issues were raised, with some residents bringing more than one concern to the attention of councillors and officers.