MOST people think local government is boring and bureaucratic, says Hyndburn Council leader George Slynn. And, sadly, it is true.

Full marks, then, for the Hyndburn initiatives aimed at involving people in town hall business and giving them greater influence over decisions.

These include a 30-minute "question time" session at the start of council meetings when residents can raise issues that concern them and let councillors know what they think.

One of local government's major problems is its remoteness from citizens.

This Hyndburn scheme - though not unique: people in Pendle have long had the right to address the council's committees - works against that and may make local government less faceless than it is or needs to be.

Let's have more of this innovation - in every East Lancashire town hall.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.