Area Forums

The Borough is made up of nine Forum areas.  Each of these areas consists of two or three wards.  Six Councillors (or nine in three ward areas) are joined by Co-optees on the Forum.  Monthly meetings are held in public and items of local interest are discussed and actions planned.  Some of these actions are carried out using the Area Forum's own budget.  This budget is made up of two parts.  The first is for improvements by direct action, and the second is for grants to local groups.  The grants part of the fund is managed by Barnsley Community and Voluntary Network.

Local people are encouraged to come and join in Area Forum meetings.  They are held in local venues and are chaired by a Councillor.  At each meeting there is time set aside for public questions.  Questions can be asked direct at the meeting or can be e-mailed from this site.

Each Area Forum writes a plan for its community.  The annual plan - known as the Think Local Plan - sets out all the things that should happen in the year.  The plan is based on discussion at Area Forum meetings and on planned actions by the Council and others.  It is also based on people's views which are sought by an annual Think Local questionnaire and returned by many residents in each area.

Area Forums help people to know what is happening in their community.  They also offer a chance to get more involved with what is happening, or what is going to happen.