Final Area Panel

Story & photo: Richard Belbin

Around 50 people attended the last ever Area Panel on 18th March, to hear the fall-out from the New Deal cuts, as well as plans for the new Community Assemblies.

Alison Rayner, officer in charge of the North East community assembly spoke about the new arrangement which will replace 3 existing area panels, include 4 council wards and cover Southey, Firth Park, Shiregreen and Brightside, as well as Burngreave. The assembly will control £439,000 for the whole area

Councillor Jackie Drayton pointed out in a ferocious attack on the Lib-Dem administration, the four wards currently handle £752,000. Cllr Drayton lambasted the way the Council has effectively switchedmoney from Burngreave to suburbs like Totley and Dore.

Community Assemblies start in May and will develop a community plan and decide what to do with the money by September at the earliest. In the meantime, it is not clear how any work will be supported.

The meeting closed with members of the panel and of the public thanking Andy Shallice, and Marilyn King, for their many years of service. They are to be moved to other areas of the city. The new Assembly team of four, replaces the six who currently work on the three Area Panels.

Community Assemblies: contact Alison Rayner or Vicky Williams on 203 7562.