Telford & Wrekin council launches drive to become co-operative council

Around 60 leading community and business figures from Telford and Wrekin will launch a new way of the council and community working together. The group will create a commission at Meeting Point House in Telford Town Centre at 10am.

The Commission will play an important part in the drive to become a co-operative council, working closely with residents, partners and council staff, giving them greater power over the services they use and the issues that affect them to deliver the best for the borough.

Its aim is to challenge Council thinking and give a fresh and independent view on how the Council could deliver some services or tackle certain issues.

The Commission will decide its own priorities and members will pick a number of topics to look at in more detail and then develop a range of proposals for councillors to consider.

It is expected to report back its findings early next year. Some of the issues that Commissioners have said they could consider include creating more civic pride in the borough, increasing volunteering opportunities and ensuring that more young adults continue to live and work in the borough.

Cllr Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Co-operative Council, said: “The Commission will draw on the wide range of skills and expertise in the borough – people who no doubt will have strong views on the way we do things and what they think are the most important issues for the borough we should be tackling.

“Borough councillors have an important role to play but we do not have all the answers so it is imperative that we draw upon local knowledge and expertise to help deal with cuts of around £40 million in real terms because of government grant cuts.

“I am sure that they will bring forward some key ideas for developing a Co-operative Council.

“The Commission is an indication of how we are seeking to involve local people in our services and what we do as we become a Co-operative Council.”

Over the coming months, Commission members will work with council staff to gather evidence, develop recommendations and identify any savings and up-front costs. Any recommendations will be considered by the full Commission and shared with the Council and local community in early 2012.