PRESTON Borough Council is to set up a Citizens' panel in a bid to gauge public opinion about its work.

Councillors were due to back a project to create the panel at a meeting this week.

It is hoped the panel can be used to help improve council relations with the public and give the perspective of the man in the street.

Edge Hill University college, Merseyside, is to be drafted in to help set up the committee, which could be used by other organisations from Preston, such as the University of Central Lancashire and the local NHS trust.

A council spokesman said: "There are a number of different areas where a panel could be usefully used, for example community safety, the government's proposals for democratic processes and helping with our department's performance review.

"It is not difficult to list a number of issues, but there will be a limit on the amount of panel time available.

"There is no doubt about it, the panel will usefully assist in the decision making process."

It has long been a bone of contention within council circles that the public cannot air its views in council meetings.

Council chiefs hope the decision to create a citizen's panel will allay any animosity felt between the parties over the issue.

Questionnaires will be sent to a cross section of the population gauging their opinions on a citizens' panel.

Similar panels elsewhere in the country have been used to identify poorly-performing parts of the council, canvass views on new services and to find out why people don't use leisure facilities.

Supporters of the scheme say the panel will raise interest in the community of council affairs and provide challenging and valuable feedback.

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