Member storms out after ‘top-heavy panel’ claims

A CO-OPTED member stormed out of the meeting last night, claiming she could no longer speak out.

Julie Keller said residents were again flooded with a panel of officers in the workshop-style meetings, with co-opted members pushed away.

She said: “We have gone from 12 co-opted members in area committees to just four in these PACT meetings. Now your four co-optees are voiceless.

“We feel bad about this, but you are now led by officers, so please don’t blame your co-optees.

“Our officers are not trained to run these sort of workshop-style meetings.”

But Councillor Stephen Barrow said he has been trying to encourage residents to come to the meetings, adding: “I want all groups to attend. Until then we will work together in groups.”

Earlier, resident Janet Gipson slammed the idea of raising community concerns in workshops and asked why they could not have an open forum.

She asked: “Why do we have to sit in groups and there’s nobody here to represent the private householder but someone is here from a housing agency?”

But neighbourhood manager John Norris said the workshops were an opportunity to ask officers questions.

Stuart Goodwin, superintendent in charge of neighbourhood policing said: “If people have concerns about a housing association then a representative from that group will take it away with them, but if private householders have issues then we will try to help them.”