Dates and venues for community forums confirmed

Community forums give local people an opportunity to meet face-to-face with their local councillors and a representative from the police to talk about the issues that matter to them most and to come up with ideas and actions to improve their local area.

The forums also provide community forum grants of up to £5,000 throughout the year to eligible voluntary and community organisations for projects and activities designed to make a difference to local areas and their communities.

Since April 2019, more than £200,000 has been granted to projects including the improvement of Pensnett Coppice, the launch of a weekly under 5s group in Upper Gornal, indoor bowling equipment for a club in Kingswinford and Christmas events.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:

It’s a busy time of year for many of us so but I, and fellow councillors, look forward to getting back to business in the new year and meeting with residents in the areas we serve.

Remember, community forums are open to everyone, they provide a chance for residents to speak up and influence what the priorities are for the authority as we plan for the year ahead.

The next round of community forums gets underway on January 6 with the Belle Vale, Hayley Green and Cradley South community forum at Caslon Primary School.

On January 8, the forum for people living in Halesowen North and South will take place at Shenstone House, Dudley Road.

The Castle and Priory, St James’s and St Thomas’s community forum takes place on January 13 at Dixons Green Methodist Church. Also taking place that evening is the Coseley East and Sedgley community forum at Christ Church C of E Primary School.

Two meetings will be held on January 14. These include the Amblecote, Cradley and Wollescote, Lye and Stourbridge North forum at Withymoor Primary School and the one for people in Gornal, Upper Gornal and Woodsetton at Royal British Legion, Ruition Street.

On January 20, the community forum for people living in Kingswinford, Wordsley and Wall Heath will be held at the Royal British Legion, Summerhill, and for those in Norton, Pedmore and Stourbridge East, Wollaston at Norton Community Centre. The Netherton, Woodside & St Andrews and Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood community forum will also be held the same evening at Woodside Community Centre.

The final meeting in this round will be the one for Brierley Hill, Brockmoor and Pensnett on 27 January at Dudley Sports and Social Club, Hillcrest Avenue.

All community forums start at 6.30pm.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to voluntary and community organisations whilst funds remain. Applications for funding must be submitted three weeks before the relevant community forum meeting. More details are available on the council’s website at https://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/community-council/community-forum-grants/

Any applications that miss this deadline will be considered as part of the next round of community forums.