AN annual 'State of the Town' debate in the council chamber could become part of Burnley's first democracy plan.

The council is committed to more involvement in the community following on from pioneering work, particularly in housing, where tenants have worked with the local authority to build new structures for involvement and participation in decision-making.

A working group of council members and officers has recommended that, in spreading the community involvement to other areas, the starting point should be that all residents in the Borough have the right to be informed and consulted and their views taken into account.

Members of the policy and resources committee were last night told that the short-term priority should be to become much better at giving out information, listening, consulting, taking into account people's views, being accountable for decisions taken and piloting new initiatives in involving people in taking decisions. They agreed to an annual democracy plan, the first to be prepared by December.

Consideration will be given to the development of an information strategy and the cost of using telephone hot-lines, citizen panels, road-shows, street corner discussions and citizen juries.

Other ideas include holding council chamber debates on important issues with an 'Annual State of the Town' debate.

The committee also agreed to involve community representatives in the setting-up of a community forum steering group.

Despite various concerns about possible costs, the raising of false expectations and the reasons why some people get involved, the committee welcomed the report.

Council leader Kath Reade, said: "There is a whole range of ways of involving people and getting their views.

"If we do that, we will be making better quality decisions. We want to get to the people who frequently are not heard.''

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