So please do not forget to put your questions to Mendip Council  before the deadlines by emailing chiefexec@mendip.gov.uk or calling 01749 341 205 / 206 before the events:

· Thursday 16^th May 2013, 7-9pm – Shepton Mallet (Mendip District Council offices) – deadline for questions is noon on Monday 13th May;

· Wednesday 22^nd May 2013, 7-9pm – Glastonbury (Town Hall) – deadline 12.00 Monday 20th May;

· Wednesday 29^th May 3013, 7-9pm – Frome (Cheese & Grain) – deadline 12.00 on Monday 27th May;

· Wednesday 19^th June 2013, 7-9pm – Wells (Town Hall) – deadline noon Monday 17th June;

· Monday 24^th June 2013, 7-9pm – Street (Victoria Club)- deadline noon Weds 19th June;

Hopefully this way, people can get answers to important questions about what the Council is (or is not) doing about local issues you care about.

I and other Lib Dem councillors, local organisations (including Vision for Frome), and Frome Town Council, have been asking Mendip to get out and about, to meet and listen to local people once again in all parts of the district, since Mendip abolished the three Community Partnership meetings in 2011 (which were often successful in Frome at raising issues people cared about, e.g. car parking). I raised the need for better engagement and to replace the previous forums in formal questions at 2 Full Council meetings last year. This eventually led to a couple of further meetings with the Cabinet members, at which various formats were discussed to engage local people better. This format is what Mendip’s Cabinet have come up with in response.

I hope these sessions are well attended, and that it involves local councillors in town, district and county as well as the Mendip Cabinet. So please get your questions in and come along, it should be worthwhile.

See also my previous article on community engagement by the council – http://adamboyden.mycouncillor.org.uk/2013/02/22/lets-bring-real-tangible-benefits-to-community/

Adam Boyden, Mendip District Councillor, Shadow cabinet member for Governance, Assets and Public Spaces (Lib Dem). cllr.boyden@mendip.gov.uk