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LOCAL DEMOCRACY

People often only notice local government when it doesn't work properly. How about shaping decisions before things go wrong?

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"How can one feel any loyalty to a borough that cares so little for the happiness of its residents - even of its erring residents."
Alexander Chancellor in The Guardian		   A nine foot video wall will be showing local people the services the council provides and how to get involved in shaping decisions that affect them.

It's all part of Local Democracy Week 2002 takes place from 14th -18th October 2002 and can be seen in Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre. This year's theme is 'the communicating council', and residents are encouraged to get involved with what is happening in Hammersmith & Fulham Council and have their say.

On October 17, the King's Mall shopping centre will be packed full of stalls hosted by local community groups, keen to tell the public about their work. Each organisation will give out information and advice on its activities - whether it be childcare, I.T. training, construction work, recruitment, or learning support. The event, which will include entertainment for children, is sponsored by Regenasis, the borough regeneration agency that supports all the groups involved.

The week is a timely point to highlight the many ways residents can get involved in the council business that matters to them. All key decision that affect borough residents are advertised four months in advance in a forward plan, with details of what's being considered and how members of the general public will be consulted. All these decisions are made after extensive consultation and scrutiny. These meetings are public as are the scrutiny panels, which look into different aspects of the council in more depth.

Council Leader, Cllr Andrew Slaughter said: "Local Democracy Week is a prime opportunity to showcase the council's work in action and how important it is for local people to get involved. Through our scrutiny panels and residents groups, we gain a lot of knowledge and ideas which ensure the decisions we make are right for residents."

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