South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 17/06/2016

Residents are encouraged to attend South Gloucestershire’s new Community Engagement Forums (CEFs) to have their say about local issues and provide feedback on areas of interest.

CEFs (previously Safer Stronger Community Groups) are about listening and responding to local people’s issues, where everyone can feel a sense of involvement.

There are 14 CEFs across South Gloucestershire that will each meet three times per year. These meetings will provide a place where local needs, issues and projects can be discussed, and will feature officers and councillors from South Gloucestershire Council along with partner agencies including Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue Service, town and parish councils, and various local voluntary and community groups.

Agenda items can be suggested to the CEF Chair in advance, and each agenda will contain an item where local issues of immediate and urgent concern can be highlighted.

The aims of Community Engagement Forums are to:
• develop a shared understanding of local aspirations, priorities and needs, and identify local solutions to community issues
• empower local people to have a greater voice and influence over local decision making and service delivery by increasing the strength, capacity and engagement of the local community
• provide a forum for local groups to engage
• promote pride in the local area as a safe, thriving and pleasant place to live, work and play.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Environment & Community Services Chair Cllr Heather Goddard said: “Community Engagement Forums have been developed to provide a setting for listening and responding to local people’s issues, so that we can help shape plans for the future. Communities know best what works for them and what their real needs are, so it is important that we have opportunities to engage directly with them. These meetings will also support groups who wish to make a positive difference and improve their own communities.”

To find out the next meeting date for your area visit www.southglos.gov.uk/cef